The levels are based on the ability of the disease to spread from animals to humans and from humans to humans. We are at a level 3 now. A level three is when a flu strain found in animals is found in humans but does not have the ability to transmit from human to human. That is where the bird flu stopped. A level 4 is when it has human to human transmission which the swine flu has. For political reasons the WHO has not moved to a level 4 because of the economic impact it may have. A level 5 is when two different countries have widespread transmission from the virus and a level 6 is when people from three different countries have widespread transmssion from the virus. We are technically at a level 4 now which we have not seen since 1968. When they find a few deaths in the U.S. we will be at a level 5 and when they find a few deaths in Europe it will be a level 6. At levels 5 and 6 there are mandatory travel bans into and out of infected countries.

WHO | Current WHO phase of pandemic alert

I went to Lake Lanier with my dog. It was about 77, no humidity and the water was cool but not cold. I stood at the boat ramp and looked out on a very smooth lake considering there was a good breeze. Problem is, I have no boat. So standing there just put me in the way of those who did.

I need a boat.

Now is probably as good a time as any to buy one. :D If I do it before 5 then I can surprise my wife with a brand new boat!

When did everyone become flu experts?

We're pilots

OR you can just buy mine....

A coworker of my girlfriend (here in CA) just cancelled a trip on the account of the Swine Flu. The trip, which is leaving in two weeks and for which she has travel insurance, was to Cabo. So, I am curious - anyone have any quantitative info on the scale that this is occurring on? As much as I would like to believe otherwise, it's hard to imagine we have not seen a decent number of trips cancelled here at the big D.

Any of you Airline History buffs know what the Bird Flu damage was - with regard to revenue loss, etc?

Well to put in these terms.
My wife's company which has offices in Mexico just banned any employees from traveling from Mexico to the US, Europe, Canada, or the Far East; US to Mexico; and the EU and Far East to Mexico.
My Father-in-law's company just banned all travel to Mexico as well.
My sister's company just banned travel to Mexico
My brother-in-law's company just banned travel to Mexico.

So in a word, yes, it is going to hurt us, a lot in the near term.

One of my buds is in CA looking at a boat!
Guess it is a good time to buy.

Thanks. A little more of the "qualitative" and anecdotal but, that's kind of what I was getting at. I think most of us probably know people who are changing travel plans based on this. It will be interesting (maybe a bit of a euphemism) to see the actual numbers with regard to trip cancels and effects on loads as this thing progresses.

Well if people cancel trips now, they have already paid for the tickets so we get free money!!

THEN, once everybody stops traveling, the virus will not transmit as well, possibly stopping the pandemic.

THEN, people will start to fly again, and since they are behind the curve on buying tickets, they will have to purchase on shorter notice and therefore will spend more per ticket!!

In my happy place this is just a hiccup......

Disclaimer: This post has no real proof of reality, its just for fun.