The World Health Organization announced today that swine flu, or influenza A(H1N1) has now infected humans in 36 cases, making a total of 8,451 people ill, and causing the deaths of 66 people in Mexico, 4 deaths in the USA, and 1 death in Canada. All data indicate the virus strain is not a virulent one (an aggressive and dangerous one).

Below is a list of countries, confirmed human cases, and confirmed human deaths from swine flu:

  • Mexico – 2,895 cases, including 66 deaths
  • USA – 4714 cases, including 4 deaths
  • Canada – 496 cases, including 1 death
  • Spain – 100 cases, and no deaths
  • United Kingdom – 78 cases, and no deaths
  • Panama – 43 cases, and no deaths
  • France – 14 cases, and no deaths
  • Germany – 14 cases, and no deaths
  • Colombia – 11 cases, and no deaths
  • New Zealand – 9 cases, and no deaths
  • Italy 9 – cases, and no deaths
  • Brazil – 8 cases, and no deaths
  • Israel – 7 cases, and no deaths
  • Japan – 4 cases, and no deaths
  • China – 4 cases, and no deaths
  • El Salvador – 4 cases, and no deaths
  • Cuba 3 – cases, and no deaths
  • Guatemala – 3 cases, and no deaths
  • Netherlands – 3 cases, and no deaths
  • Rep Korea – 3 cases, and no deaths
  • Belgium – 2 cases, and no deaths
  • Finland – 2 cases, and no deaths
  • Norway – 2 cases, and no deaths
  • Sweden – 2 cases, and no deaths
  • Thailand – 2 cases, and no deaths
  • Argentina – 1 case, and no deaths
  • Australia – 1 case, and no deaths
  • Austria – 1 case, and no deaths
  • Denmark – 1 case, and no deaths
  • Ecuador – 1 case, and no deaths
  • Ireland – 1 case, and no deaths
  • Peru – 1 case, and no deaths
  • Poland – 1 case, and no deaths
  • Portugal – 1 case, and no deaths
  • Switzerland – 1 case, and no deaths

WHO does not recommend travel restrictions related to this A(H1N1) virus. If you are ill you should delay your trip, while returning travelers who become ill should seek appropriate medical care, says WHO. Many countries, such as the UK, advise people who become ill with swine flu-like symptoms to call their GP (general practitioner, primary care physician), this is to protect patients and other people who may be at the GP’s practice from infection risk.

Some countries are starting to lift travel restriction to Mexico – the United Kingdom has just lifted the travel ban. Reports indicate that other countries that reduced their number of flights to Mexico (but did not stop them altogether), such as the USA and Canada, will soon start increasing flight numbers.

Written by Christian Nordqvist