Czech authorities raise flu pandemic threat level

In related news, Czech health authorities have raised the pandemic threat level as recommended by the WHO, the Czech health minister Daniela Filipiová told reporters. The current threat level is four, with six representing the highest possible alert. Czech authorities believe the risk of a swine flue pandemic is higher than bird flu which began spreading in Asia three years ago. The Czech EU presidency has also convened an extraordinary meeting of EU health ministers for Thursday to address possible threats posed by swine flu.