Swine flu has become the world's first official pandemic in 41 years after the world Health Organisation raised the alert level on the H1N1 virus from phase 5 to 6, the highest on the scale.

世界卫生组织宣布将甲型H1N 1流感病毒的警戒级别由5级提升至最高级别6级，至此，猪流感已成为41年来世界上第一个正式的全球大流行病。

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If the who declares the swine flu alert should move up from the current phase 5 to the highest level of phase 6, a whole raft of new measures and precautions will be triggered.

如果世卫组织宣布猪流感警戒级别从目前的5级提升到6级，则一系列新的控制和预防措施将被启用。

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Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency raised the crisis alert level from level five to seven, the highest level on the scale. (Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images)

日本核电和工业安全机构上调了核危机严重等级，从5级上升到7级，7级是最高等级。

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Hong Kong's pandemic alert will remain at its highest, as at least eight suspected flu cases still awaiting test results.

VOA: standard.2009.05.08

An amber alert, the second highest alert, advises that people should be prepared for potential disruption caused by snowfall.

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An "internal major incident" is the highest alert level the hospital has, and is only declared when a trust is concerned it can no longer guarantee beds for patients because of a higher-than-usual demand for its services.

BBC: Peterborough City Hospital in second bed shortage alert

The interior ministry said Saturday it had lifted the scarlet state of alert, the country's highest security alert level, which was put in place in the Toulouse region following the third shooting on Monday targeting a school.

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