ALERT LEVELS

WHO Alert Level is currently Level 6 the Isle of Man Alert Level is Currently Level 6d

Isle of Man Alert Levels

The Isle of Man alert levels (A-D shown below) become operational only after WHO has declared Alert Phase 6.

At Level 6 - the decision with regard to the local Isle of Man alert levels be undertaken by the Pandemic Control Team in consultation with the Chief Secretary’s Strategic Group.

A: Virus is outside UK and IOM

B: Virus isolated in the UK

C: Virus isolated in IOM

D: Virus causing outbreaks in IOM

Nobody can predict when the next pandemic will happen. When it does, it may come in two or more waves several months apart. Each wave may last two to three months.

Each pandemic is different, and until the virus starts circulating, it will be impossible to predict the full effects.

WHO announced Level 6 on 11 June 2009 and has issued the following information about the Alert Levels.

What is Phase 6?

Please click here to view the revised Pandemic Alert Phases Document issued by WHO.

What about severity?

At this time, WHO considers the overall severity of the influenza pandemic to be moderate. This assessment is based on scientific evidence available to WHO, as well as input from its Member States on the pandemic's impact on their health systems, and their social and economic functioning.

The moderate assessment reflects that:

1. Most people recover from infection without the need for hospitalization or medical care.
2. Overall, national levels of severe illness from influenza A(H1N1) appear similar to levels seen during local seasonal influenza periods, although high levels of disease have occurred in some local areas and institutions.
3. Overall, hospitals and health care systems in most countries have been able to cope with the numbers of people seeking care, although some facilities and systems have been stressed in some localities.

WHO is concerned about current patterns of serious cases and deaths that are occurring primarily among young persons, including the previously healthy and those with pre-existing medical conditions or pregnancy.

Large outbreaks of disease have not yet been reported in many countries, and the full clinical spectrum of disease is not yet known.

Does WHO expect the severity of the pandemic to change over time?

The severity of pandemics can change over time and differ by location or population.

Close monitoring of the disease and timely and regular sharing of information between WHO and its Member States during the pandemic period is essential to determine future severity assessments, if needed.

Future severity assessments would reflect one or a combination of the following factors:

• changes in the virus,
• underlying vulnerabilities,
• or limitations in health system capacities.

The pandemic is early in its evolution and many countries have not yet been substantially affected.