The World Health Organization raised the H1N1 (swine) flu alert Thursday to its highest level, saying the H1N1 virus has spread to enough countries to be considered a global pandemic.

It is important to remember that increasing the alert to Phase 6 does not mean that the disease is deadlier or more dangerous than before, just that it has spread to more countries, the WHO said.

As of Wednesday evening, the virus had spread to 74 countries, the health agency said. There were 27,737 confirmed cases worldwide and 141 deaths.

The United States had 13,217 cases and 27 deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its most recent weekly update.Cases have been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

In New Jersey, there have been about 235 confirmed cases and a number of suspected cases. Most incidents have been mild and the patients have not required hospitalization and have recovered in a few day to a week.

Again, the most important way to protect yourself and prevent the further spread of H1N1 is to:

• Always use good hand hygiene
• Stay home when sick
• Avoid contact with people with influenza-like illness (ILI)
• Cover mouth and nose with tissue when cough or sneeze
• Dispose of used tissue in the waste basket after use
• After coughing or sneezing or blowing your nose ALWAYS wash hands immediately
• Regularly clean door knobs, handles, telephone receivers, surface areas etc., especially if someone in you household is sick.

Below is a link to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services H1N1 update site. The site contains useful information as well as links and updates from national resources.

http://www.state.nj.us/health/er/h1n1/