World Health Organization: Swine flu pandemic has begun, first in 41 years

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic today — the first global flu epidemic in 41 years — as infections in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere climbed to nearly 30,000 cases.

The long-awaited pandemic announcement is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. WHO will now ask drug makers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine. The declaration also will prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.

WHO chief Dr. Margaret Chan made the announcement after the U.N. agency had an emergency meeting with flu experts. Dr. Chan said she was moving the world to phase 6 — the agency’s highest alert level — which means a pandemic, or global epidemic, is under way.