The UN's WHO has raised the alert over the spread of swine flu to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic.

A phase five alert means human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. The move comes after a 23-month-old Mexican child died in Texas - the first death from swine flu outside Mexico, where the outbreak originated. Announcing the latest alert level after an emergency WHO meeting in Geneva, Director General Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans, including heightened surveillance and infection-control measures. She said action should be undertaken with ‘increased urgency'. Officials put the number of suspected deaths from swine flu in Mexico at 159. Texas Governor Rick Perry said closing the US border with Mexico was an option, but added that taking that step now would be ‘a little premature'.

Pray:

for God's grace and wisdom to those who seek ways of dealing with this outbreak and equip them for the task.

 Source: Prayer Alert