The Pandemic is the First in 41 Years

Thursday, The World Health Organization, officially considered the Swine Flu to be pandemic. It is the first global pandemic in 41 years, with instances of people with Swine Flu in South America, Australia, Europe, the United States, and Mexico. To date, there have been close to 30,000 cases around the world. Dr. Margaret Chan, the chief of the World Health Organization told reporters: "The world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century." "The virus is now unstoppable."

The WHO has reported also that the virus is quickly spreading around the world and has already spread to 74 countries and caused 144 deaths. Usually the flu doesn't survive warm weather, however, the Swine Flu is continuing to spread despite the weather becoming warm. With the H1N1 strain of the flu, half of the people who have succumbed to it are young and healthy, people ordinarily not subject to the flu. The WHO does stress that most reported cases are mild and don't require treatment.


Glaxo, a leading pharmaceutical company, stated they could start large-scale production of the pandemic vaccine in July, but that it would take several months before large quantities would be available.