Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that the H1N1 pandemic is over and the global outbreak turned out to be much less severe than was feared just over a year ago, Reuters has reported. "We are now moving into the post-pandemic period. The new H1N1 virus has largely run its course," Chan said. However, she told a news conference that the swine flu virus will continue to circulate as part of seasonal influenza for years to come, requiring health authorities to remain alert.