On April 29, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its influenza (flu) pandemic alert level to Phase 5, one level below declaring that a global influenza pandemic was underway. According to WHO, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short. The WHO has increased the pandemic flu alert level in response to the spread of a new strain of influenza A subtype H1N1 virus. First identified in Mexico in March 2009, the novel flu strain has quickly spread to the United States, where, as of April 29, there are 91 confirmed cases of illness, including one death. Additional cases have been confirmed in several other countries. The new flu strain was initially dubbed swine flu because it contained genetic material from flu strains that normally circulate in swine. However, there has been no evidence to date that pigs are involved in the transmission of this virus. There have been concerns that the term swine flu has had unwarranted trade implications for swine and pork products, among other concerns. On April 30, 2009, WHO began referring to the new strain as influenza A(H1N1). Federal agencies have adopted a pandemic response posture, under the overall coordination of the Secretary of Homeland Security. The Obama Administration has requested $1.5 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to address the threat, and congressional committees in both chambers have convened emergency hearings to assess the situation. This report provides an introduction to the situation regarding the potential of a global human influenza pandemic caused by the new H1N1 flu strain; a brief chronology of events; a discussion of key actions taken and authorities invoked by the WHO and the U.S. government; information about key U.S. government pandemic flu planning documents; and sources for additional information about the situation as it unfolds.
Source: Congressional Research Service
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