From the CDC website...
Quote:
Phase 5: Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk).
The distinction among phases 3, 4, and 5 is based on an assessment of the risk of a pandemic. Various factors and their relative importance according to current scientific knowledge may be considered. Factors may include rate of transmission, geographical location and spread, severity of illness, presence of genes from human strains (if derived from an animal strain), and other scientific parameters.
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According to
this link, it was at phase 3 for 2 years and was raised two days ago to phase 4.
I think panicking is over-rated. Maybe I'm just not "in panic mode" because I don't watch the news, let alone 24 hour news stations with nothing better to do then panic people.