What is a pandemic and what does a Pandemic Alert Phase 6 mean?
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak among humans. Pandemic phases are set by the World Health Organization as a way to advise governments, health ministries and other organizations about a possible pandemic. Pandemic phases are based on how an illness is spreading and does not address the severity of the illness. A phase 6 alert is the highest level of a pandemic alert. It means that there is efficient and sustained human to human spread of the virus. During this phase, community level outbreaks are occurring in at least two regions of the world. While a phase 6 alert means that a global pandemic is underway, it still does not provide any indication of the severity of the disease or how individuals are being affected. During a phase 6 alert, international, national and local health agencies will continue to implement their plans to prevent the further spread of the virus.
