The World Health Organization (OMS) has decided to raise swine flu alert level 5 on a scale of 6, meaning that the organization considers as there is

The World Health Organization (OMS) has decided to raise swine flu alert level 5 on a scale of 6, meaning that the organization considers as there is risk of imminent pandemic.
A tour guide dress mariachi in Mexico City
A tour guide dress mariachi in Mexico DF / AP / Gregory Bull

The six phases of pandemic alert

Phase-1
None of the virus circulating among animals has caused infections in humans.
Phase-2:
A circulating animal virus that has caused infections in humans, thus having a potential pandemic threat.
Phase-3:
Sporadic cases or small outbreaks of disease in humans, but do not have enough transmission capacity from person to person.
-Phase 4:
Transmission from person to person capable of causing outbreaks at the community level. Significant increase in the risk of a pandemic.
-Stage 5:
The virus is transmitted from person to person in at least two countries in a WHO region. The pandemic is imminent.
-Stage 6:
A global epidemic is in progress.
MORE
DEPTH
Swine flu

* Egypt ordered to slaughter pigs and Health recommends calling the swine influenza virus "new flu"
* The EU is also expected in Europe has died
* USA 91 confirmed positive, the death of a baby and Obama wants to close schools
* Ten cases of swine flu in Spain, six in Catalunya, an indirect contact
* Mexico closed its restaurants to curb the epidemic of influenza, but only recognizes 7 dead
*

The announcement was made the director general of OMS Margaret Chan, having presided over a conference call with experts from the emergency committee of the organization.

"All humanity is under threat of a pandemic," said Chan, who made an appeal to governments, pharmaceutical industries and the business community for their efforts and resources to address this crisis.

According to the manual phase of the OMS warning, grade 5 is declared when there is transmission of the virus from person to person in at least two countries.

The head of OMS recalled that influenza viruses are known to be unpredictable "and said that the pandemic virus may be present with the disease from mild to very severe." Chan also noted that a pandemic will be much more serious and devastating in developing countries with fewer resources.

This happens on a day that Health has announced that it had confirmed six new cases of patients suffering from swine flu, all in Catalunya, so the number of people have contracted the disease in Spain has risen to ten. In addition, the Councilor for Health of the Generalitat, Marina Geli, has confirmed that one of the new infections in Catalonia would not have traveled to Mexico, but would be a couple of those infected.

So far, the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the EU amounts to 19 and Spain, with 10 confirmations, is the country with more cases. In addition 70 people were under observation in encunetran the Spanish State.

The fact that infection can occur in an indirect way, as the case of man infected by a partner in Catalunya, it means the virus can be transmitted from person to person, which is why the OMS has decided to raise the alert level .