WHO: Decision on swine flu pandemic likely Tuesday

[August 10, 2010]  GENEVA (AP) --  The World Health Organization says it will likely decide Tuesday whether to declare the swine flu pandemic over.

Spokesman Gregory Hartl says an expert panel is discussing with WHO Director-General Margaret Chan whether to shift the global body's pandemic alert from its current phase 6 level -- the highest -- to the "post-peak" or "post-pandemic" stages.

Chan has the final say and is expected to announce her decision Tuesday afternoon.

WHO last week confirmed 18,449 deaths from swine flu worldwide since the outbreak began in April 2009. The number of lab-confirmed deaths globally has increased by about 300 in the past two months.

[Associated Press]

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