What are the pandemic alert phases set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and what is the current phase?
WHO identifies six phases of a pandemic alert: • Phase 1: Influenza viruses are circulating in animals, especially birds. No reports of animal viruses infecting humans. • Phase 2: Human infection by an animal influenza virus. Potential pandemic threat. • Phase 3: An animal or animal-human influenza virus has caused limited disease in people. Isolated human to human transmission may occur, but not widespread. • Phase 4: Verified human to human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza virus causing widespread or “community level” outbreaks. Risk of a pandemic is considered much higher but not a foregone conclusion. • Phase 5: Human to human spread of the influenza virus is confirmed in at least two countries in one WHO region. It is likely that a pandemic is imminent. Time to finalise organisation, communication, and implementation of planned mitigation strategies is short. • Phase 6: The pandemic phase. Community outbreaks in at least one country from a second WHO region, ind
