SWINE flu has faded from the headlines, but not from the world鈥檚 hospitals. And it could well get worse as the southern hemisphere enters its winter flu season (see 鈥淎ustralia broadens testing for swine flu鈥�). Yet the World 午夜福利1000集合 Organization is delaying the declaration of a full pandemic, partly to accommodate countries whose pandemic plans are in disarray.
The WHO is not underestimating the threat, however, unlike some pundits who claim that swine flu is no more than a 鈥渟care, just like SARS鈥�, the virus that frightened the world in 2003. We should be so lucky. It was the scare itself 鈥� with its travel warnings, quarantines and public precautions 鈥� that eradicated the threat from SARS. No matter who dislikes being 鈥渟cared鈥� we must prepare for the possibility that swine flu could become much worse.
