THE swine flu outbreak has become a pandemic, it has been announced.

THE swine flu outbreak has become a pandemic, it has been announced.

The move, made by the World Health Organisation (WHO), means the world is in the grip of a flu outbreak on a scale not seen for more than 40 years.

But it does not mean the virus has become more deadly - just that its geographical spread is now truly global.

The news comes as another 25 cases of swine flu were confirmed in England, taking the UK total to 822.