WHO declared Swine Flu (H1N1) outbreak to be a pandemic on June 11, but stressed that the new designation was a result of the global spread not its severity.
The WHO stated the pandemic appears to have moderate severity in comparatively well-off countries, however it is prudent to anticipate a bleaker picture as the virus spreads to areas with limited resources, poor health care, and a high prevalence of underlying medical problems.
The outbreak was first detected in Mexico City on March this year. As the outbreak spread throughout Mexico and into the U.S., however, scientists were trying to understand why there were so many deaths in Mexico while infections in the United States and Canada were relatively mild.
In India, there have been 35 cases of swine flu so far. Most of theses cases were detected among those coming from abroad. With number growing, the government has swung into action and has asked all the states to be on vigil to contain further outbreak.
Arunachal is taking no chances either. It has decided to step up vigil which includes checking of foreign tourists coming to the state.
WHO states that 76 countries have officially reported 35,928 cases which includes163 deaths.
WHO says probably it will be September 2009 before the first doses of a vaccine for the 2009 flu pandemic strain will become available.
With the declaration of the flu as pandemic, it is essential that governments of the world get together and put in effort to control the disease from further spread.