WHO: Potential A/H1N1 flu pandemic

Video

Play VideoVaccine can be ready in July

The World Health Organization says a spike in A/H1N1 flu cases in Australia may push it to finally announce the first flu pandemic in 41 years.

The WHO says the number of flu cases in Australia jumped to more than one-thousand on Monday, with the vast majority reported from the southeastern state of Victoria.

If the flu virus spreads rapidly from person to person in another region beyond the Americas, that would trigger the conditions for the WHO to declare a pandemic, indicating a global outbreak.

The WHO's director-general Margaret Chan says that it is important to verify the reports that the virus is becoming established outside North America before declaring a pandemic.

She will hold a conference call with governments Wednesday to verify reports before making a formal announcement.