WHO Raises Swine Flu Threat Level

Solarch writes "Late in the afternoon on Wednesday, the WHO raised the pandemic threat level for H1N1 "swine flu" to 5. Global media outlets(such as CNN, Fox News, and the BBC) preempted normal broadcast coverage and immediately published stories on their websites. To clarify, the WHO's elevation is mainly a sign to governments that the virus is spreading quickly and that steps should be taken on a governmental level to stage supplies and medicines to combat a possible pandemic. Unfortunately, broadcast coverage focused on phrases like 'pandemic imminent' (CNN marquee). In other news, patient zero, the medical term for the initial human vector of a disease, has been tentatively identified in Mexico."

Comments

I dunno?

[Anonymous Coward]

Who does raise the swine flu threat level?

Re:I dunno?

[nxtr]

It is not the pronoun, but rather a global public health agency with the unlikely name of WHO that raised the pandemic threat level.

Clearly, you are one confused man.

Re:I dunno?

[Anonymous Coward]

WHOosh.

Re:I dunno?

[Bertie]

Thanks for that. We Won't Get Fooled Again.

Re:I dunno?

[againjj]

Who's on first. What's on second.

Re:I dunno?

[PayPaI]

Ob. bash.org

Re:I dunno?

[sootman]

Costello: Well then who sets the swine flu threat level?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: I mean the group's name.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The group that sets the level.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The group that...
Abbott: Who!
Costello: I'm asking YOU who sets the level!
Abbott: That's the group's name.
Costello: That's who's name?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: Well go ahead and tell me.
Abbott: That's it.
Costello: That's who?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: Look, you got a group that sets the level?
Abbott: Certainly.
Costello: Who?
Abbott: That's right.
Costello: All I'm trying to find out is what's the group's name that sets the swine flu level.
Abbott: No. WHAT is the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group.
Costello: I'm not asking you who's the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group.
Abbott: Who sets the level!
Costello: I don't know.
Abbott & Costello Together: Third base!

Re:I dunno?

[johannesg]

You are all making jokes but you are missing the big picture. The WHO is an agency of the United Nations, and they *want* you to panic so they can take over your government! Haven't you people learned nothing from Deus Ex!?

The who

[thedogcow]

""Late in the afternoon on Wednesday, the WHO raised the pandemic threat level for H1N1 "swine flu" to 5."

Wow. I knew they had good music but I did not know Peter Townshend was in charge of changing pandemic threat levels.

Re:The who

[Sponge Bath]

If Spinal Tap was in charge the pandemic threat level would go to 11.

Re:Please let it be!!

[John Hasler]

> Would hate to die of Swine Flu, just because of what it's called... and all that it
> would imply if I caught it...

Then call it Mexican flu.

Doesn't scare me at all

[mcrbids]

The media can do what they will with this non-story.

I'm safe - I don't believe in that e-vo-lution crap, so this new disease could not have evolved from swine! It's all just pig nonsense.

I'm going back to prepare a round of raw bacon sushi!

Re:Please let it be!!

[ring-eldest]

Would hate to die of Swine Flu, just because of what it's called... and all that it would imply if I caught it...

Don't kid yourself, slashdot-netizen, chances are you don't get enough human interaction or even sunlight to risk infection. You're as good as immune.

Governments are already taking huge action

[scourfish]

For example, Madagascar has just closed its seaport. And here I was, so close, to winning :(

This is how it always starts....

[macraig]

This is how it always starts...

Re:Please let it be!!

[jesser]

Just make sure you don't get caught downloading the iraq war. With all the money they put into it, I don't think they'd be happy to find it being torrented.