EU-Beamter: Schweinegrippe wird „Europäer töten“[en] 

EU health ministers are meeting today in Brussels in the wake of the World Health Organisation's decision to raise the alert to level five on its six-point scale, warning that a pandemic is "imminent". 

Robert Madelin, director-general for health and consumer policy at the European Commission, said the EU expects fatalities as the virus spreads, but it cannot estimate how many people will be affected. 

"Yes, people will die from this. It is not a question of whether people will die, but more a question of how many. Will it be hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands," Madelin said in an interview with Reuters. 

"We don't know the scale of this pandemic. But Europe is better prepared than ever," he added. He also said a vaccine could be ready in Europe in 100 days' time. 

In Mexico, where the outbreak of the new influenza virus first occurred, President Felipe Calderon has announced the partial suspension of non-essential work and services between 1 May and 5 May. The Mexican government is urging people to stay in their homes. 

A travel ban to Mexico or the United States is not something the EU executive is expected to propose at a meeting of EU health ministers today (April 30). 

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the upgrade of the alert to level five indicated that the organisation is treating the potential pandemic with increased urgency. 

"It is really the whole of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic," she said, calling on countries to activate pandemic action plans by stepping up disease surveillance and tightening infection control measures. 

She also stressed that the world is "better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history". 

There have been over 300 cases worldwide, with an estimated 168 people dying in Mexico. To date, there has been just one death outside Mexico. The victim in that case was a Mexican boy receiving medical attention in the United States. 

Cases have also been confirmed in Spain, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Israel, Costa Rica, Canada and New Zealand.