WHO declares swine flu crisis health emergency

The World Health Organization has declared the swine flu outbreak in North America a "public health emergency of international concern."
The decision means countries around the world will be asked to step up reporting and surveillance of the disease implicated in human deaths in Mexico and at least 20 non-fatal cases in the US. WHO fears the outbreak could spread to other countries and is calling for a coordinated response to contain it.
WHO director-general Margaret Chan made the decision late Saturday after consulting influenza experts during an emergency meeting. She earlier told reporters the outbreak had "pandemic potential." But her agency held off raising its pandemic alert level, citing the need for more information.
"It would be prudent for health officials within countries to be alert to outbreaks of influenza-like illness or pneumonia, especially if these occur in months outside the usual peak influenza season," Chan told reporters by telephone from Geneva, where she convened an emergency meeting of influenza experts.
Several Latin American and Asian countries have already started surveillance or screening at airports and other points of entry.
More than 100 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like illness in Mexico, WHO says. More than 1,600 people are ill with the symptoms. Some of those who died are confirmed to have a unique flu type that is a combination of bird, pig and human viruses.
US authorities said 20 people were infected with swine flu in California, Texas, New York, Kansas and Ohio All recovered, having had only mild symptoms. Canada has also reported some mild cases.
WHO's emergency committee, called together Saturday for the first time since it was created in 2007, draws on experts from around the world. They may decide the outbreak constitutes an international public health emergency. If so, they will consider whether WHO should recommend travel advisories, trade restrictions or border closures and raise its pandemic alert level.
President Obama said Monday the swine flu outbreak is a "cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert," but is not a "cause for alarm," according to a story from CNN.
He added the federal government is closely monitoring the situation and declared a public health emergency as a "precautionary tool to ensure that we have the resources we need at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively."