The WHO is set to announce officially that novel H1N1 or swine flu has reached official pandemic status. That is a phase six. This is the first influenza pandemic since the Hong Kong flu of 1968.

A pandemic declaration is based on the spread of the illness and not necessarily upon how deadly it is. Of the four influenza pandemics in modern times, 1918 Spanish Flu, the 1957 Asian Flu and the 1968 Hong Kong Flu, this outbreak appears to be the mildest. That could change but for now we have an influenza pandemic from a mild strain.

This declaration puts national governments on the spot. Most have prepared a pandemic flu plan with the steps that they would take when a pandemic is declared. For many nations, this means expenditure of money and resources they do not have. As with many international agreements, the wealthier countries are far readier and able to comply.

The United States plan can be found at PandemicFlu.gov. The plan provides for eventualities such as a very deadly illness that might require internal travel restrictions and quarantines.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are your best source for authoritative information about influenza, swine flu, and the steps you should be taking.

The Associated Press is reporting that the World Health Organization will most likely declare the swine flu / novel H1N1 outbreak a pandemic, alert level six, tomorrow. This will be about eight weeks into the outbreak, with WHO reporting cases in 73 nations.

Australia is cited as the determining factor. Its government reports the following:

9 June 2009: The total of confirmed H1N1 Influenza 09 cases in Australia as at 1500 AEST has risen to 1,211. Overnight Queensland reported an additional five confirmed cases. One previously confirmed Queensland case has since been found to be negative. The cases include a 45-year-old female from Moreton Bay Regional Council area, a family member of previous case; a girl 10, as a probable case resulted in Ferny Hills State School closure (she is sibling of previous case); a 24-year-old male in Cairns with no travel history or known contact with a case; a State of Origin player aged 24 from the Gold Coast, acquired in Melbourne and a male 25 from the Gold Coast, who is a partner of a case advised previously. A Cairns male aged 33 advised as a confirmed case yesterday, has been found to be negative.

The national breakdown is: WA 20, NT 6, Tas 9, ACT 10, SA 13, Qld 53, NSW 89, Vic 1,011.

WHO explains the phases of a pandemic in this PDF file. Phase six merely means that human to human transmission (H2H) is widespread in several separate regions of the world.

Please remember that if you were born before 1957 you have already lived through two influenza pandemics. In 1957 there was the Asian Flu. In 1968 there was the Hong Kong flu.

The Federal Government has a site with a large amount of information about pandemics, and what you should do.