WHO raises pandemic flu alert level to 4

Per the Associated Press, the World Health Organization has raised the pandemic alert level to phase 4 on a six-point scale. WHO says level 4 means there is "sustained human to human transmission causing outbreaks in at least one country" and "significant increase in the risk of a global epidemic," according to AP.

Since the announcement, "pandemic" buzz is increasing on Twitter, but tweets suggest a wide variety of views. Here's some of them:

1. 
   ashleytastic (Tucson, Ariz.) I love the word "pandemic". It instantly strikes fear into the hearts of millions. Can't have "pandemic" without "panic". #swineflu 27 Apr 2009 from mobile web
2. 
   ColleenHart (Chicago, Ill.) "Most brides worry about rain on their wedding day. I'm worried about drug cartels and a global pandemic."
   Thoughts from Cancun Bride-to-Be 27 Apr 2009 from BeTwittered
3. 
   xxlea (New York City, N.Y.) Just when the "terror alert Color scale" had been buried & forgotten in the backs of our minds, we now have a Pandemic Alert Scale #swineflu 27 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   _bme (Undisclosed) @22samurai i'm emphatically NOT worried. but i am amused by the idea of a flu pandemic. 27 Apr 2009 from web in reply to 22samurai
5. 
   H4RB0URT (Ohio) @Veronica Please be aware of the 1918 H1N1 pandemic. http://bit.ly/nRDFg It killed aprox. 25 million. 27 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to Veronica
6. 
   AmyBlogTalk (Connecticut) Nothing like a flu pandemic to get our minds off the economy :( 27 Apr 2009 from web
7. 
   mathewi (Toronto, Canada) "in a pandemic, having people wrap their fears in 140 characters and blurt them out might have dangerous consequences": http://bit.ly/B8GE9 27 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

WHO raises pandemic flu alert level to 4