Ventura, CA - Ventura County Public Health received news that a swine flu pandemic was declared yesterday, June 11, 2009, by the World Health Organization (WHO). The worldwide pandemic alert level is raised to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is underway. The long-awaited pandemic announcement is scientific confirmation that this new flu virus is circling the globe and will prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus. WHO’s decision to raise the pandemic alert level to Phase 6 is a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus.

“We are seeing small numbers of cases here in Ventura County and no local deaths have been attributed to this virus”, said Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Levin. “Since the disease caused by the swine flu virus right now is so mild, it seems like pandemic is a strong word. Perhaps the WHO will rethink the definition we use for ‘pandemic’ in the future to incorporate the severity of disease caused by an infectious agent. But even though the severity of the virus appears to be tolerable now, we still need to be concerned about how virulent the virus will be when it returns in the fall.”

“We continue to monitor the H1N1 virus carefully,” stated Dr. Levin, “and hope that people will prepare for the fall and winter flu season with an increased awareness of basic health practices. These include getting vaccinated for seasonal influenza, having influenza supplies on hand, and continuing to wash hands regularly and use anti-bacterial lotion, as well as staying home from school or work if you feel ill.”

In Ventura County there have been 25 confirmed and/or probable cases of the H1N1 virus, since April of this year.

More than 70 countries are now reporting cases of human infection with novel H1N1 flu. This number has been increasing over the past few weeks, but many of the cases reportedly had links to travel or were localized outbreaks without community spread. The WHO designation of a pandemic alert Phase 6 reflects the fact that there are now ongoing community level outbreaks in multiple parts of world.

For more information about the H1N1 virus, visit www.who.int/en/ or the county’s Public Health website at www.vchca.org/ph.