WHO chief: A/H1N1 virus could pose grave threat to humans

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The chief of the World Health Organization says she is not raising the world A/H1N1 flu alert level just yet.

WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan's comments came as China, Britain, Japan and other countries urged the WHO to be very cautious about declaring the arrival of an A/H1N1 flu pandemic.

Chan says she has listened carefully to the concerns of member states and will follow their instructions. She says the A/H1N1 flu virus continues to spread rapidly, but the world is still short of facing a pandemic.

The alert level is currently set at phase 5, out of a possible 6. Some health experts have urged the W-H-O to change its standards for declaring a pandemic.

They say it should take into account whether the virus is causing severe or mild illnesses. Chan repeated the virus could pose a grave threat to humans. At least 40 countries now have confirmed cases. The number of infections in Japan has risen to over 130.