Public health officials declare influenza A(H1N1) pandemic

On June 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert for influenza A(H1N1) to phase 6, marking the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic. PATH continues to monitor the situation closely and coordinate with our staff and partners around the world. At this time, PATH operations have not been affected by the current outbreak. All PATH offices are open and our work continues. 

Public health officials have been monitoring the strain of influenza A since earlier this spring. In a statement to the press, Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO, noted: “The virus is contagious, spreading easily from one person to another, and from one country to another. As of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries.”

• Dr. Chan's statement on the WHO website.
• PATH’s work on influenza.

Posted June 12, 2009.