The World Health Organisation (WHO) will raise its pandemic alert level to phase 4 over the deadly swine flu virus. This shows that the infection can spread between humans to cause community-level outbreaks. Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A (H1N1) influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. This virus can spread from human to human through coughing or sneezing.

Currently 149 people died in Mexico and the virus has now spread to the US, Europe, Canada and New Zealand. In the US there is now 41 confirmed cases.