Geneva (dpa) - The global tally of patients infected with swine
flu has hit 94,512, with 429 deaths, World Health Organization
statistics showed on Monday.
Most of the infections were in the Americas, particularly the
United States, though thousands of cases have been reported across,
Europe, Asia and Australia.
The WHO has declared the A(H1N1) virus, as it is technically
known, as a pandemic, but has stressed the severity of the illness is
mostly moderate.
A Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunizations and
vaccines was set to be convened by the WHO on Tuesday in Geneva, and
would discuss the new virus among other topics.
Companies manufacturing vaccines say they will likely have one for
swine flu ready by the autumn.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said his organization
might require 1 billion dollars to cope with the spreading disease,
particularly to help poorer countries with weaker health systems.
Copyright 2009 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH