WHO: Swine flu epidemic in ‘grace period’

updated 11:27 a.m. ET May 18, 2009
GENEVA - China, Britain, Japan and other countries urged the World Health Organization on Monday to be very cautious about declaring the arrival of a swine flu pandemic, fearing that a premature announcement could cause worldwide panic and confusion. WHO bent to their wishes.

As the agency opened its annual meeting, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said she had listened carefully to the concerns of member states and would follow their instructions.

The new swine flu virus continues to spread rapidly, but the world is still short of facing a pandemic, Chan said, keeping the alert level at the currently phase 5 out of a possible 6, indicating a global outbreak is likely.

"This virus may have given us a grace period, but we do not know how long this grace period will last," Chan said. "No one can say whether this is just the calm before the storm."

At phase 6, the world has a swine flu pandemic — meaning there is an epidemic in at least two world regions.

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