Following on the heels of yesterday's East Bay flu fatality, making it the third reported H1N1-related casualty in the Bay Area, the World Health Organization upgraded the swine flu to pandemic status today. "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, MD, warned at a news conference, going on to say, "Countries should prepare to see cases, or the further spread of cases, in the near future. Countries where outbreaks appear to have peaked should prepare for a second wave of infection."

But don't fret; the virus isn't any stronger or more rampant than it was a few weeks ago. Until virgin sacrifices are called for, just be sure to keep those hands washed and coughing / sneezing mouths covered.

California confirmed 796 cases of the swine flu as of June 4. Oh, and The New York Times, by the way, has a decent article on pandemics.