World Health Official Says Swine Flu Still a Threat

Despite a decline in swine flu activity across the U.S., a world health official says it's too early to get complacent about the pandemic.

"Based on my experience with new diseases and the lessons learned from past pandemics, I think we should remain cautious and observe the evolution of the pandemic over the next six to 12months before declaring victory," World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan tells Swiss newspaper Le Temps.

Chan says the second wave of the flu appears to have peaked in the U.S. and Canada but hasn't yet struck parts of Africa or Asia.

Earlier this month, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius warned that the flu may be just taking a breather here and could be back later this winter. Sebelius encouraged Americans to go out and get their swine flu shots. Just last month, the U.S. was struggling to get enough vaccine distributed so high-risk individuals such as children and seniors could get their shots.

Now that the swine flu vaccine is widely available to everyone, retailers like Walgreen Co., CVS Caremark Corp., and Rite Aid Corp. are trying to draw people into their stores to get vaccinated. But with swine flu being less of a threat, that effort is proving to a hard sell in recent weeks.

"Right now there's probably more supply than demand," Troyen A. Brennan, CVS's chief medical officer tells the Wall Street Journal.

Walgreen gave more than 5 million seasonal flu vaccines this fall and winter but, as of mid-December, only administered around 200,000 swine flu shots.