Outbreaks of swine flu in Mexico and the United States have the potential to cause a worldwide pandemic but it is too early to say whether they will, the head of the World Health Organisation said today.
"It has pandemic potential because it is infecting people," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said.
The new flu strain - a mixture of swine, human and avian flu viruses which has killed up to 68 people among 1,004 suspected cases in Mexico and infected eight in the United States - is still poorly understood and the situation is evolving quickly, Mr Chan said on a teleconference.
The WHO said today it will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss a deadly swine flu strain outbreak in Mexico and the United States.
Ms Chan called the "virtual meeting" that will link public health authorities and experts in various parts of the world "to seek their advice and guidance," WHO spokesman Fadela Chaib said.
Mr Chan will also brief journalists about the outbreak, which has killed up to 68 people in Mexico and infected 8 in the United States, on a teleconference before the virtual meeting starts.
The experts will not necessarily issue firm recommendations today.
Once more details are clear about the virus and its risks, the emergency panel could recommend a change in the WHO's pandemic alert level, currently at 3 on a scale of 1 to 6, or recommend travel advisories to control the flu's spread.
Reuters