The World Health Organisation yesterday declared a global influenza pandemic, the first in more than 40 years, after weeks of delay for fear of causing unnecessary public alarm.

世界衛生組織(WHO)昨日宣布全球流感大流行到來，這是該機構40多年來首次宣布這樣的消息。此前該機構拖延了數周，原因是擔心引起不必要的公眾恐慌。　

“The scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. I have therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6,” said Margaret Chan, WHO director-general.

“流感大流行的科學標準已達到，因此我決定將流感大流行的警戒級別從５級提高到６級，”世衛組織總干事陳馮富珍(Margaret Chan)表示。

“The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic.”

“世界現在處于2009年流感大流行的起點。”

Phase 6, the maximum on the WHO's pandemic alert scale, means the flu strain is spreading globally. It is not a measure of severity.

6級是世衛組織最高的疫情警戒級別，意味著流感病毒正在全球范圍內傳播，而不是衡量流感嚴重程度的指標。
　　
Dr Chan said that on the basis of evidence so far the pandemic would be of “moderate severity”. The WHO would maintain its recommendations against travel bans and other restrictions.

陳馮富珍表示，根據迄今掌握的證據，流感的癥狀“較輕”。世衛組織仍建議不要限制旅行，也不要實施其它限制。