The WHO's "Phases of Pandemic Alert, " which has been in existence for five years, characterizes phase 5 as a human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region, signaling that a pandemic is imminent.

CNN: WHO raises pandemic alert to second-highest level

Prior to the EPA phase out the economics were not attractive enough to promote wide spread reclamation Despite the fact that it is illegal, many many contractors would and did vent the gas into the air rather then capture and reclaim it because in many cases they would have to pay to get rid of the dirty gas.

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The announcement came after a meeting of the WHO's Emergency Committee, which has debated since April whether the spread of a novel H1N1 flu virus was fast and widespread enough to warrant a Phase 6 designation.

CNN: Swine flu 'not stoppable,' World Health Organization says