WHO chief says swine flu is still a pandemic
(AP) -- The head of the World Health Organization says swine flu is still a pandemic even though the period of most intense activity appears to have passed.
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan says a decision on whether to declare the global epidemic of H1N1 over will be revisited in mid-July.
Chan's announcement Thursday came two days after a virtual meeting of international flu experts who advise her on setting the global body's pandemic alert level.
The alert level is currently at phase 6 - the highest - but could be moved to the "post-peak" or "post-pandemic" stage as circulation of the virus continues to decline.
WHO last week confirmed 18,114 deaths from swine flu worldwide since the start of the outbreak in April 2009.
©2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
