WHO raises swine flu pandemic alert to phase 5

Nurses COVID

Published

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

Do not panic, but the WHO has just raised the Pandemic Threat Level to Phase 5.

I would suggest that you do some prepping if you have not done so. Be calm, and be practical. What does your family need to have on hand?

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan declared the phase 5 alert after consulting with flu experts from around the world. The decision could lead the global body to recommend additional measures to combat the outbreak, including for vaccine manufacturers to switch production from seasonal flu vaccines to a pandemic vaccine.

"All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans," Chan told reporters in Geneva. "It really is all of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic."

A phase 5 alert means there is sustained transmission among people in at least two countries. Once the virus shows effective transmission in two different regions of the world a full pandemic outbreak would be declared.

Absolutely13

354 Posts

14 mins ago

GENEVA - The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent.

WHO says the phase 5 alert means there is sustained human to human spread in at least two countries. It also signals that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090429/ap_on_re_eu/swine_flu_world

Y2K part II?

Special hugs to ED nurses. I sense some self-diagnosing coming around the bend in large numbers.

Editorial Team / Admin

sirI, MSN, APRN, NP

17 Articles; 44,729 Posts

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Threads merged.

Specializes in Operating Room.
14 mins ago

GENEVA - The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent.

WHO says the phase 5 alert means there is sustained human to human spread in at least two countries. It also signals that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090429/ap_on_re_eu/swine_flu_world

Y2K part II?

Special hugs to ED nurses. I sense some self-diagnosing coming around the bend in large numbers.

That's true..but I think I'd rather have people getting looked at and having it be a false alarm, rather than someone not going to the ER, and having it be serious.

Absolutely13

354 Posts

That's true..but I think I'd rather have people getting looked at and having it be a false alarm, rather than someone not going to the ER, and having it be serious.

I can see how that read and apologize for my apparent lack of compassion. Triage nurses will be challenged to identify acuity if they are inundated. The potential problems worry me.

Specializes in Operating Room.
I can see how that read and apologize for my apparent lack of compassion. Trauma nurses will be challenged to identify acuity if they are inundated. The potential problems worry me.

I didn't take it as a lack of compassion. The potential for lack of resources worries me too. I know some states have set up Swine Flu hotlines. It's going to be tough though, you're right.:o

flightnurse2b, LPN

1 Article; 1,496 Posts

Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

it scares me. my mom works at a hospital about 30 miles south of here and she said they had a handful of cases come in today with flu like sx. our hospital has not yet had anyone come in thinking they have the swine flu but if they do, my pregnant behind is wearing an n95 all day long.

JB told me egypt has slaughtered all the pigs in the country. wow.

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.
it scares me. my mom works at a hospital about 30 miles south of here and she said they had a handful of cases come in today with flu like sx. our hospital has not yet had anyone come in thinking they have the swine flu but if they do, my pregnant behind is wearing an n95 all day long.

JB told me egypt has slaughtered all the pigs in the country. wow.

Yes, they did all 33,000 of them. Senseless really and I never could figure out what they were raising pigs for in a predominantly Muslim country anyway every time I heard about their pig farms, and how they considered moving them away from poplulated areas because of bird flu.

Since you are pregnant, would you consider asking to be transferred to a nonpatient area like phone triage? Ask infection control about risk factors, and I am not trying to make you nervous since you already are. Just get some info from them. I do not like the idea of pregnant women working with potential flu victims.

flightnurse2b, LPN

1 Article; 1,496 Posts

Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
Yes, they did all 33,000 of them. Senseless really and I never could figure out what they were raising pigs for in a predominantly Muslim country anyway every time I heard about their pig farms, and how they considered moving them away from poplulated areas because of bird flu.

Since you are pregnant, would you consider asking to be transferred to a nonpatient area like phone triage? Ask infection control about risk factors, and I am not trying to make you nervous since you already are. Just get some info from them. I do not like the idea of pregnant women working with potential flu victims.

yeah, it didn't make much sense to me either!

my employer doesn't know i'm pregnant yet, i'm still on 90 day probation so i'm hoping i can wait a little while longer to say "hey, i need maternity leave in october!"... i work on telemetry and the side i work on thankfully does not have any rooms to accomodate airborne or droplet isolated patients. however, to complicate things, my fiance also works there, and he does work on the side that has the isolation rooms.

scary.

i'm hoping the swine flu stays far, far away from south florida.

the cases @ my moms hospital turned out to be negative.

has anyone's employer done any education or preparation in regards to this?

ours just basically told us WASH YOUR HANDS!!! i was hoping for some sit-down in regards to things maybe you wouldn't get from reading MSN or something, in regards to the viral strain, treatments and symptoms to look for on assessment. i suppose maybe our IC dept has something in the works.

i think maybe if there is a confirmed case in our state, maybe they will start to panic a little more. i'm just an over-worrier, i guess.

fiveofpeep

1,237 Posts

Specializes in critical care, PACU.

Indigo Girl:

Can you or anyone else please explain to me the consequences of each WHO phase level? For example, at phase 6 will there be restrictions imposed such as airport travel, public gatherings, and restaurants? I just want to know so I can be prepared. I have looked at the WHO website and read many articles, but the most I got from the phases is their descriptions r/t flu contagiousness and geographical spread.

Thank you in advanced :redbeathe I appreciate the education going on here :)

cooliegirl

458 Posts

I'm panicking already!!. OMG this is more serious that I thought.... LEVEL 5

What can I do to prepare myself and family?

I already bought masks. Thank you so much

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

Remain calm. Take some deep breaths. It's too early to wear yourself out, and you have work to do.

And there is plenty that you can do to get ready. Start with these links:

http://www.getpandemicready.org/

http://readymoms.org/

I will try to post more on this later tonight if I can. Just stay informed, and come here to vent and get support.

Another hugh preparedness and information site is flutrackers.com. They are very professional, and calm. Stay away from sites where everyone is freaking out because that is contagious.

We all need to keep our heads, and to stay in touch with the information as it comes in.

+ Add a Comment