The World Health Organisation  has declared the current outbreak of flu a pandemic - signifying that it is spreading in more than one region of the world. The latest figures show there have been almost 28,000 cases in 74 countries, and 141 deaths.  The UK has recorded 800 cases, with Scotland sufering the worst, but cases are almost certainly being under-reported, because symptoms are usually mild. The WHO move makes swine flu the first world pandemic for 40 years, since Hong Kong flu in 1968 - but does not mean that the current outbreak poses as great a threat.