GENEVA, Switzerland (CNN) -- The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert to 5, its second-highest level Wednesday, warning of widespread human infection from the swine flu outbreak that originated in Mexico.
"This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmacy industry and the business community that certain actions now should be taken with increased urgency and at an accelerated pace," Chan said.
The announcement came as the number of confirmed swine flu cases increased rapidly across the world.
Germany and Austria became the latest European countries to report swine flu on Wednesday, while the number of cases increased in the United Kingdom and Spain.
The WHO and national governments have confirmed 148 cases of swine flu in 11 countries. Most of those are in the United States, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 91 cases.
The figures include seven deaths in Mexico and one in the United States. More than 2,700 other patients worldwide are believed to be suffering from the virus, known scientifically as H1N1.
More/Source: http://snipurl.com/h1aie
