The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A new study concludes the swine flu’s potential to spread justified the World Health Organization’s decision to raise the global pandemic alert.
While WHO is reporting about 4,700 confirmed cases in 30 countries, the new analysis estimates there have been between 6,000 and 32,000 cases in Mexico alone.
Lead author Neil Ferguson of Imperial College, London, says the early analysis suggests the outbreak is going to be comparable to that of 20th century pandemics.
Ferguson said it’s difficult to quantify the human health impact at this stage.
Ferguson’s report was released by the journal Science.
Normally Science releases its reports on Thursday but the journal said it was issuing this study early because it contains important public health information.