Although the risk for the swine flu outbreaks to spark a pandemic are real, there is no reason to panic.

For almost 10 years now, World Health Organization and Public Health services woldwide are getting prepared for an H5N1 (Avian Flu) pandemic and have strenghten their emergency procedures, including early identification of the strain, prophylaxis, vaccine production capacity and coordination of the different players.

The current strain of H1N1 Swine Flu virus seems to be able to spread from human to human, but it is much less fatal than the H5N1 Avian Flu, and measures already designed to contain H5N1 would be efficient to limit the effect of a Swine Flu pandemic.

The strain has been quickly identified, and industrial labs are ready to produce large quantity of vaccine on WHO request.