by Tim Girton
Ville Voice Eats Correspondent

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization raised its alert level to 5, its second highest rating. That means that human-to-human contact has occurred in at least two different countries. At level 6, the swine flu crisis will be considered a pandemic as human-to-human contact has occurred in at least two different regions. WHO General Director Margaret Chan says “all humanity is under threat in a pandemic.”

The word pandemic causes nervousness because it sounds like the scarier word epidemic. Epidemics are associated with chronic issues like bubonic plague or 4th Street Live Bar failures, but in this case a potential pandemic doesn’t necessarily mean widespread sickness. But what does widespread mean? 91 U.S. cases is a lot but not compared to the total population, however those 91 people aren’t exactly having a good time. So far there are still no cases reported in Kentucky.

As for the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, it has implemented its emergency response. Meanwhile the Strategic National Stockpile (we have a national stockpile?) has been shipping antiviral drugs and prevention equipment to all 50 states. Stay tuned.