The World Health Organization has made it official: H1-N1 influenza (a.k.a. swine flu) is now a global pandemic – otherwise known as Phase 6, the highest alert level.
Some people may be confused by this, having heard that this flu is relatively mild. While it's a great relief that this virus does not seem particularly deadly, that's actually unrelated to the WHO declaring it a pandemic.
It's a new illness that has spread to many people across the entire globe — that's what makes it a pandemic. The fact that it's less likely to kill you than the plague, tuberculosis or HIV — that's what makes us lucky this time around.
So what does this mean for your dental practice? Frankly, not that much, as long as you already practice Universal Precautions.
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