SALT LAKE CITY -- International health authorities have raised the swine flu threat level to six on a six-point scale, which is a declaration of a pandemic. Utah health officials say although that designation is historically significant, it doesn't change the public health response.

Health officials say they're trying to strike a delicate balance here, by encouraging only those with severe symptoms to go to emergency departments. If symptoms are more mild, they advise going to your doctor, a clinic or staying home.

This week, several Salt Lake area hospitals saw large numbers of mildly ill patients, many with respiratory symptoms or allergies, not the H1N1 flu, coming to emergency departments.

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The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic Thursday _ the first global flu epidemic in 41 years _ as infections in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere climbed to nearly 30,000 cases.

At the region's largest hospital, Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, those visits are up 15 percent in the last two weeks; Monday was an all-time high. Spokesman for Intermountain Health Care Jess Gomez said, "We have people who are aware of the symptoms, concerned they have mild cases, and they're coming into the emergency department."

Utah health officials say the swine flu virus is spreading throughout the state. Ninety people have been hospitalized and two people have died.

Despite that, health officials say, most cases are not severe and most people with the H1N1 virus will fully recover.

"At this point, we're well aware that the virus is spreading throughout the state," said UDOH Executive Director Dr. David Sundwall. "However, it is important for us to be able to track those who are experiencing severe illness, which is why we've moved to testing only those who require hospitalization."

On Thursday, world health officials declared the swine flu virus a pandemic; the first in more than 40 years, calling it moderate and in the early stages.

World Health Organization Director General Dr. Margaret Chan said, "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic."

"WHO's declaration, while historically significant, does not change our public health response," Sundwall said. "We have been operating as if this were a pandemic since the beginning of the outbreak and will continue to do so."

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Handshake becomes less popular amid health scares

With superbugs and scares over the H1N1 virus, some people have been recommending people keep their hands to themselves, even when it comes to the longstanding customary greeting of a handshake.

What does that mean for Utah? Not much, the change is simply linked to the spread of the flu has spread around the globe.

Sundwall said, "The most important thing you need to know is this new category or level of concern is not based on severity of the illness, it's geography."

The message for people who feel sick: Only go to an emergency department if symptoms, like high fever, cough and sore throat are severe.

"If you have mild symptoms, stay home, call your doctor, go to their office or go to a clinic," Gomez said. "That's really the more appropriate level of care that you can receive there. If you have the severe case of symptoms, certainly come into an emergency room."

"Common sense should prevail, not undue worry," Sundwall said.

Everyone can help limit the spread of swine flu by: practicing good hygiene, washing your hands frequently, sneezing into your elbow and blowing your nose into a tissue and throwing it away.

This week, WHO reported 28,774 cases in 74 countries throughout the world. Nationwide, CDC reported 13,212 cases, including 27 deaths, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com

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