(AP) - The World Health Organization says the spread ofswine flu has created the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
The announcement by WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan cameThursday as infections climbed in the United States, Europe,Australia, South America and elsewhere to near 30,000 cases.
Chan said she decided to raise the pandemic alert level fromphase 5 to 6, meaning that a global outbreak of swine flu hasbegun, after an emergency meeting on swine flu with top experts.