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.

世界卫生组织(WHO)昨日宣布全球流感大流行到来，这是该机构40多年来首次宣布这样的消息。此前该机构拖延了数周，原因是担心引起不必要的公众恐慌。　

“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.

“流感大流行的科学标准已达到，因此我决定将流感大流行的警戒级别从５级提高到６级，”世卫组织总干事陈冯富珍(Margaret Chan)表示。

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

“世界现在处于2009年流感大流行的起点。”

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级是世卫组织最高的疫情警戒级别，意味着流感病毒正在全球范围内传播，而不是衡量流感严重程度的指标。
　　
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.

陈冯富珍表示，根据迄今掌握的证据，流感的症状“较轻”。世卫组织仍建议不要限制旅行，也不要实施其它限制。