The Associated Press is reporting that Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao plans to return to Manila as scheduled, despite warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO) that he postpone his return trip in favor of a self-imposed quarantine in Los Angeles.

The WHO, along with Philippine health officials, have encouraged Pacquiao and members of his entourage to quarantine themselves in L.A. for five days until it can be determined if any of them are experiencing flu-like symptoms. The measure was taken because the H1N1 virus (aka, "swine flu") has been found to have spread to California.

Pacquiao insists that the quarantine is unnecessary, telling DZBB radio, "If you are healthy, why should you be quarantined?" The champion insists that neither he, nor any member of his entourage (which includes his wife and mother), have shown any flu symptoms that would justify their quarantine. They plan to return home on Friday.

Pacquiao is fresh off his victory over Ricky Hatton in a light welterweight bout in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Pacquiao has held about every title under the sun and is considered by Ring Magazine to be the best pound-for-pound pugilist on the planet.

The WHO has also advised Pacquiao and his entourage to observe the same five-day self-quarantine restrictions once he lands in Manila. They also could be subjected to a thermal scan, foot bath and health survey — apparently standard procedure for your average world traveler arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) during a global alert for the H1N1 "potential pandemic."

In addition, friends, family and fans who plan to greet the champ at the airport are requested to maintain a one-yard distance from the party at all times and to avoid handshakes, hugs and kisses. I guess high fives are out of the question?

As a precaution, a "national day of celebration" to honor Pacquiao’s latest achievement has been postponed until next week, as will his victory parade around Manila, along with a meeting with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo — originally scheduled for Friday.

"It’s going to be a nightmare for the country if someone from his team exhibits signs and symptoms of the A(H1N1) virus," said Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesperson, citing the fact that the boxing champion has been in contact with countless people during the last few weeks.

Just imagine how Hatton would feel if he comes to find out he lost to a guy with the swine flu. Cough … cough.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, a rabid Pacquiao supporter, has stated the hubbub is a "cruel joke" and completely unnecessary. Said Atienza, Pacquiao "could be the healthiest Filipino now."

Golez, a physician, replied: "Even if you are considered as the strongest man alive here, nobody is invincible to diseases, viruses or bacteria."

Said Pacquiao: "Well what if it was Fedor?" and everyone agreed the Fedor would be invincible to swine flu … Okay, that last part didn’t actually happen.

The Philippines has no confirmed cases of swine flu. Three of the five Filipino patients who had been under observation for flu-like symptoms have been cleared.

Not to belittle the potential devastation of H1N1 (doing so risks putting countless "health officials" out of a job), but to put it in perspective, about 2,000 cases of "swine flu" have been confirmed worldwide, with the number of dead significantly lower. It’s difficult to get an exact number, but in Mexico — which has been far more affected than any other country — there were about 1,070 confirmed cases, with 42 dead, as of yesterday.

The last time the world witnessed an official "pandemic" was in 1968, when the Hong Kong Flu (H3N2) killed between 750,000 to 1 million people. Your normal run-of-the-mill, average everyday influenza kills about 36,000 people each year — in America alone.

Is this unjustified anxiety or a necessary precaution? Let’s hear what you think.