Pandemic 'no cause for alarm'

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that upgrading the swine flu outbreak to pandemic status should not unduly concern people.

His remarks follow an announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) which means the virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world with rising cases being seen in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile.

Mr Ban said the UN would work with national governments and the WHO to ensure the response was "as well co-ordinated and as effective as possible".