GENEVA: United Nations chief N. Ban Ki-moon urged people to remain "vigilant and alert" y about Influenza A(H1N1) on Tuesday as the number of cases around the world shot up to almost 10,000. Previous pandemics had shown flu outbreaks could start mild and worsen, said Mr. Ban as he addressed the World Health Organisation's annual Assembly in Geneva. "That is why the world must remain vigilant and alert to the warning signs." The U.N. health agency said cases had soared by more than 1,000 since Monday with 9,830 infections now in 40 countries, including 79 deaths. The WHO has so far resisted pressure to declare a full-fledged flu pandemic, but anxiety about the spread of the virus