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H1N1 flu deaths climb past 2,800
Posted: 04 September 2009 2000 hrs
Mexicans wear face masks as prevention against the swine flu virus.
•H1N1 flu vaccine to cost up to US$20 per dose
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation said Friday that at least 2,837 people had died from H1N1 flu since the new A(H1N1) virus was uncovered in April.
"There are now at least 2,837 deaths attributable to pandemic H1N1," said Gregory Hartl, spokesman for the UN health agency.
The data marked an increase of 652 deaths from the last toll of 2,185 published a week ago.
Hartl said the increase in the number of deaths is due to the overall rise in the number of people who have caught the A(H1N1) virus, and not because of the virus turning more virulent.
"In the sense of the virus having become more severe, no. It is just that the volume of cases is increasing," said Hartl.
The Americas region continues to report the largest number of deaths -- at 2,234.
The Asia-Pacific region reported 467 deaths, while Europe reported at least 104.
In the Middle East, 21 deaths were recorded while in Africa, 11 people succumbed to the infection.
Zimbabwe and Djibouti also reported their first cases of infections, said the WHO.
The UN health agency added that the pandemic virus "continues to be the predominant circulating virus of influenza" in both the northern and southern hemisphere.
According to its flu database, some 61.1 per cent of flu specimen cases have been found to be of the pandemic strain.
- AFP/sc
Posted: 04 September 2009 2000 hrs
Mexicans wear face masks as prevention against the swine flu virus.
•H1N1 flu vaccine to cost up to US$20 per dose
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation said Friday that at least 2,837 people had died from H1N1 flu since the new A(H1N1) virus was uncovered in April.
"There are now at least 2,837 deaths attributable to pandemic H1N1," said Gregory Hartl, spokesman for the UN health agency.
The data marked an increase of 652 deaths from the last toll of 2,185 published a week ago.
Hartl said the increase in the number of deaths is due to the overall rise in the number of people who have caught the A(H1N1) virus, and not because of the virus turning more virulent.
"In the sense of the virus having become more severe, no. It is just that the volume of cases is increasing," said Hartl.
The Americas region continues to report the largest number of deaths -- at 2,234.
The Asia-Pacific region reported 467 deaths, while Europe reported at least 104.
In the Middle East, 21 deaths were recorded while in Africa, 11 people succumbed to the infection.
Zimbabwe and Djibouti also reported their first cases of infections, said the WHO.
The UN health agency added that the pandemic virus "continues to be the predominant circulating virus of influenza" in both the northern and southern hemisphere.
According to its flu database, some 61.1 per cent of flu specimen cases have been found to be of the pandemic strain.
- AFP/sc
