Washington, Apr 28: While there have been a number of outbreaks of the new strain of swine flu, there also have emerged a whole gamut of misinformation. Now, scientists have elaborated exactly what one needs to know about this new epidemic.

Infectious disease expert Charles Ericsson, M. D., professor of internal medicine and director of Travel Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, has answered some questions regarding swine flu, which are as follows:

1. How do symptoms of swine flu differ from other types of flu?

Mexico City, Apr. 28: The World Health Organization has raised the alert level in relation to the `Swine Flu’ epidemic to Phase 4, meaning there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus causing outbreaks in at least one country.

On Monday, the alert was raised above Phase 3.

Putting an alert at Phases 4 or 5 signals that the virus is becoming increasingly adept at spreading among humans.

Phase 6 is for a full-blown pandemic, characterized by outbreaks in at least two regions of the world.

Mexico City, Apr. 28: The World Health Organization has raised the alert level in relation to the `Swine Flu’ epidemic to Phase 4, meaning there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus causing outbreaks in at least one country.

On Monday, the alert was raised above Phase 3.

Putting an alert at Phases 4 or 5 signals that the virus is becoming increasingly adept at spreading among humans.

Phase 6 is for a full-blown pandemic, characterized by outbreaks in at least two regions of the world.

Geneva - World Health Organization officials reiterated Tuesday that travel restrictions would not help stem the spread of the swine influenza virus. "Border controls don't work, screenings don't work," said spokesman Gregory Hartl, speaking to reporters in Geneva. "Travel restrictions do not help."

In response to action by some countries which have banned pork from Mexico and some US states, the WHO reaffirmed that it did not recommend such moves.

Phnom Penh - Cambodian authorities Tuesday installed equipment to scan passengers for fever at Phnom Penh's international airport to stem the spread of swine flu. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Health Ministry said there were no reported cases of the potentially deadly viral infection in the country.

Nairobi/Mogadishu - Two European aid workers employed by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) who were kidnapped in Somalia over a week ago have been released, reports said Tuesday. The BBC cited militant Islamist group al-Shabaab as saying it had released the Danish nurse and Belgian doctor.

However, a regional spokeswoman for MSF in the Kenyan capital Nairobi could not immediately confirm the reports.

The pair were taken nine days ago on the way to Hudur, the capital of the Bakol region in south-west Somalia.