WRAPUP 11-WHO raises flu threat level, warns pandemic imminent

(For full coverage of the flu outbreak, click [nFLU])

* WHO says flu pandemic imminent

* Virus in 9 countries, no sign outbreak slowing

* Mexican toddler is first U.S. fatality

* Markets wary, but impact thus far very limited

(Updates throughout)

By Laura MacInnis and Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, April 29 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Wednesday the world is at the brink of a pandemic, raising its threat level as the swine flu virus spread and killed the first person outside of Mexico, a toddler in Texas.

"Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world," WHO Director General Margaret Chan told a news conference in Geneva as she raised the official alert level to phase 5, the last step before a pandemic. [nLT672274]