The World Health Organization finally announced today that it is declaring a flu pandemic — the first global flu epidemic in 41 years — as A(H1N1) infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere. As of 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time, today, 74 countries have officially reported 28,774 cases of A(H1N1) influenza, including 144 fatal cases.

The long-awaited pandemic decision is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. It is expected to trigger pharmaceutical companies to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine and prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.

The last pandemic — the Hong Kong flu of 1968 — killed about 1 million people. Ordinary seasonal flu kills about one-fourth to one-half that many persons every year.

In a statement sent to member countries, the WHO announced it had decided to raise the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to phase 6 — its highest alert — after holding an emergency meeting on swine flu with its experts.