“Today the World Health Organization has declared the spread of swine flu the first global pandemic in 41 years. And the WHO also raised the pandemic alert level from phase five to phase six. Infections are rising in the United States, Europe, Australia South America and around the world…”

Is it the announcement of a crisis ….or to help make sure governments are ready for what happens next?

We’re following coverage from CCTV, The Wall Street Journal, France 24 and euronews…

A China Central Television report indicated more than 27,000 cases of the swine flu and 141 deaths worldwide to date…

The New York Times tackled the shifting definition of a “pandemic.” It says swine flu isn’t in the same category as the last Phase 6 flu pandemic that claimed a million lives in Hong Kong in 1968 … or the 1918 flu that killed 20 million worldwide.

The Wall Street Journal says that the word pandemic sounds like … quote… “a disaster movie to most people.”
   
“I think they ought to find a less loaded word than pandemic. Pandemic will put in motion a sense of panic that may impede a rational response plan for this virus. There have been 141 deaths globally due to swine flu. Seasonal flu kills 500,000 people a year — a staggering death toll that occurs without any of the public losing a moment’s sleep over it.”

France 24 talked to the head of Paris’ infectious disease department about the severity and potential mutations of the h1n1 virus.

“We have to understand that the position of the WHO doesn’t mean that the virus became any more dangerous that it was a couple weeks ago.  It’s just that the disease is widespread among many countries around the world and public awareness should increase.”

While euronews showed video of flu victims from Germany to the Philippines, the BBC interviewed Britain’s chief medical officer, who said the real crisis isn’t the WHO’s announcement but what may happen next flu season…

"These flu viruses can change their pattern of attack, so when we come into the flu season in the autumn and winter in this country, when we expect a big surge of cases, we need to watch very carefully to see if the character of the virus is changing."