IT is right to underline the seriousness of the outbreak of swine flu across the world.

It is an alarming development, which has killed about 150 people in Mexico, and spread to other countries, including Britain.

As well as the clear implications for public health, there will also be an inevitable economic impact at a time when the world desperately needs a break from its financial ills.

But while the risks must be highlighted, and every effort made to coordinate international efforts to contain the virus, it is also vital to keep the problem in perspective.

So far, no one outside of Mexico has died, suggesting that there is a particular complication to the virus in South America.

We should also be reassured by the fact that the World Health Organisation rates Britain and France as the best prepared countries to face a pandemic.

With our Government planning for a pandemic for the past five years, it has stockpiled enough anti-virals to treat half of the UK population.

As the patterns of the outbreak become clearer, everyone can play a part in trying to avoid a pandemic.

Anyone who suspects that they may be suffering from swine flu should heed medical advice to stay away from doctors’ surgeries or hospitals and seek advice by telephone.

That is the best way to avoid the most vulnerable in our communities being placed at risk of infection.

The picture will become clearer in the next few days. In the meantime, the message, in the immortal words of Dads’ Army’s Corporal Jones, is: “Don’t panic!”