GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The World Health Organisation will consult later Friday its emergency flu committee of experts who can recommend that the agency declare a pandemic, a spokeswoman said, as swine flu cases soared to 21,939 around the world.

'The emergency committee has been convened today from 2 to 3 pm,' said Fadela Chaib, adding that the agenda of the committee, would be on the 'severity of H1N1 and also to review international health-related measures.'

The WHO has so far held back from declaring a full-fledged swine flu pandemic after raising its six-grade alert level to five at the end of April, signalling that a pandemic was imminent.