Romania Interior minister calls National Emergency Committee as WHO declares flu pandemic

Romanian Interior and Administration minister Dan Nica called a National Emergency Committee session for Friday morning as the World Health Organization declared the first flu pandemic of the century on Thursday, lifting to 6 the level of AH1N1 virus alert.

According to a ministry press release, the Friday session will check whether Romanian institutions fulfil measures included in a plan aimed at supporting the functioning of state instutions in case of a pandemic.

The WHO decided on Thursday to recommend the declaration of swine flu pandemic, lifting the level of alert from 5 to 6. The WHO announced two days ago that it was very close to declare the maximum level of alert. The last time when the organization declared a flu pandemic was 40 years ago.

So far, 11 cases of people who have contacted the AH1N1 virus were reported in Romania, the latest of which was confirmed on Wednesday evening.