LONDON— The World Health Organization says the swine flu pandemic still has not peaked.

The agency's emergency committee met Tuesday and suggested it was "premature" to recommend downgrading the global flu outbreak. Swine flu cases have dropped dramatically in recent weeks in Western countries, but the virus has only recently hit Africa. The southern hemisphere is also bracing for another wave of illness in the next few months.

Swine flu mostly causes mild symptoms and most people don't need treatment to get better. WHO's expert committee recommended another meeting be held in a few weeks to monitor the situation.

In the Philippines, the swine flu entered the country on May 1 last year. Schools, offices, and households were greatly affected during the outbreak, which rose here during the rainy season and school opening, the Philippine Health department said. (AP/Sunnex)