Next Tuesday: WHO to make decision on Alert Level

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   Experts to advise WHO on pandemic alert phase 

GENEVA, April 26 (Reuters) - International experts will convene on Tuesday to advise the World Health Organisation (WHO) whether to raise the current pandemic alert level due to the new flu virus in Mexico and the United States, a WHO spokesman said.

"We need more epidemiological evidence from Mexico before the experts would be in a position to advise on a pandemic change," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told Reuters on Sunday.

"An advisory body will recommend whether or not the director-general should up (raise) the phase. They are meeting again on Tuesday," he said.

A new type of swine flu has killed up to 81 people in Mexico and infected around a dozen in the United States. The current pandemic alert level is 3 on a scale of 1 (low risk of human cases) to 6 (efficient, sustained transmission between humans). (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay)

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Midas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: September 05 2006 Status: Offline Points: 295	Post Options Post Reply Quote Midas Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Next Tuesday: WHO to make decision on Alert Level Posted: April 26 2009 at 6:24am
	Experts to advise WHO on pandemic alert phase GENEVA, April 26 (Reuters) - International experts will convene on Tuesday to advise the World Health Organisation (WHO) whether to raise the current pandemic alert level due to the new flu virus in Mexico and the United States, a WHO spokesman said. "We need more epidemiological evidence from Mexico before the experts would be in a position to advise on a pandemic change," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told Reuters on Sunday. "An advisory body will recommend whether or not the director-general should up (raise) the phase. They are meeting again on Tuesday," he said. A new type of swine flu has killed up to 81 people in Mexico and infected around a dozen in the United States. The current pandemic alert level is 3 on a scale of 1 (low risk of human cases) to 6 (efficient, sustained transmission between humans). (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay)