W.H.O. declares stage six; H1N1 reaches pandemic level

There are still no local confirmed cases of the influenza A H1N1, even though the epicenter of the virus is neighboring Mexico. This morning the virus was declared the first flu pandemic in over forty years and the alert level was increased from phase five to six on the World Health Organization’s System. Six is the highest warning level and the decision was made for the increase after an emergency meeting of the W.H.O.’s flu experts. A statement issued today indicates that so far seventy-four countries have reported a total of over twenty-seven thousand cases; one hundred and forty-one resulting in deaths. Interestingly, however, the W.H.O. statement says that “at this early stage, the pandemic can be characterized globally as being moderate in severity.” News Five has extensive coverage of the pandemic in this newscast, from Belize City to Chetumal, but first we turn to a story at the tourism village.