Reuters: April 25, 2009. The World Health Organization warns that the outbreaks of swine flu in Mexico and the United States have the potential to cause a worldwide pandemic, but still, it is too early to say whether this will be the case. The statement was issued by WHO director general Margaret Chaun.
Chan urged health authorities in all countries to be on high alert for unusual patterns of disease and any rise in severe flu or pneumonia cases. "This is clearly an animal strain of the H1N1 virus and it has pandemic potential because it is infecting people... However, we cannot say on the basis of currently available laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical evidence whether or not it will indeed cause a pandemic."
The World Health Organization Building from where the statement was released.
