Geneva (dpa) - At least 1,799 people have died of swine flu since
April, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday in its latest
global tally.
The figures showed that that 182,166 infections had been confirmed
by national health authorities, though the total number of people who
had contracted the disease was higher.
The Americas remained hardest hit, with at least 105,882
infections and 1,579 deaths. Europe had more than 32,000 cases and 53
deaths, while South-East Asia had over 13,172 infections, of which
106 were fatal.
WHO data on the pandemic influenza A(H1N1), as the virus is
technically known, is accompanied by a disclaimer which notes: "given
that countries are no longer required to test and report individual
cases, the number of cases reported actually understates the real
number of cases."
Swine flu has spread globally, though medics say it is mostly
mild. Vaccine production is under way at various pharmaceutical
companies in several countries and anti-viral drugs are generally
effective against the disease once contracted.
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