GENEVA, Switzerland, May 6, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The number of confirmed
H1N1 flu cases worldwide exceeded 1,500 in 22 countries in the tally issued
Wednesday by the World Health Organization in Geneva.
The 1,516 cases, including 30 deaths, did not include the death of a Texas woman
infected with the virus, also known as swine flu, CNN reported. Texas health
officials said the woman had other chronic medical conditions.
The WHO total confirmed additional cases in Canada and added Guatemala to the
list of countries with lab-confirmed cases.
WHO reported Mexico, thought to be the outbreak's epicenter, had the most number
of confirmed flu incidents, with 822 cases, including 29 deaths. The United
States had 403 cases, including one death, and Canada reported 165 confirmed
cases of H1N1 infection.
Meanwhile, Mexican travelers in China and Chinese travelers in Mexico left
stranded when China banned all flights from Mexico were picked up and flown back
to their respective countries in an agreement reached Tuesday by Mexican and
Chinese leaders, China Daily reported.
More than 150 Mexican citizens were sent under quarantine to four Chinese
airports to return home on a chartered flight. About 200 Chinese citizens were
expected to return home Wednesday.
In Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura ordered the health ministry
Wednesday to prepare for a possible upgrade of WHO's pandemic alert to Phase 6,
the highest level, the Kyodo news agency reported.
"If the phase is upgraded to six, Japan has to do everything it can do,"
Kawamura said. "Japan's crisis management will be put to the test.
Kawamura also called on the health ministry to continue its work to thwart the
virus's entry into Japan, which so far hasn't reported any confirmed cases.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International