WHO declares swine flu pandemic

The long-awaited announcement to its member countries was scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe.

It will trigger drug companies to speed up production of a vaccine and prompt governments to devote more money to containing the virus.

Last month, several countries urged WHO not to declare a pandemic, its highest alert level and essentially raising the outbreak's status to a worldwide epidemic, fearing it would spark mass panic.