The H1N1 pandemic and the International Health Regulations
The newly revised International Health Regulations (IHR), which oblige governments, ministries of health and WHO to report and act on public health threats, are tested by the emergence of the influenza virus, H1N1. In June 2009, the influenza pandemic alert was raised to phase 6 – a pandemic. "The world is at the start of the pandemic, we are all in this together, and we will all get through this, together", said WHO Director-General, Dr Chan.