According to WHO (World Health Organization), the total number of confirmed swine flu A(H1N1) cases of human infections stands at 9,830, including 79 deaths. The numbers of confirmed cases are rising by approximately 1,000 per day, says WHO. Japan has seen confirmed cases rise sharply over the last few days.
Several medical charities say that wealthy countries have taken up such a high proportion of vaccine orders that there is not much left for the rest of the world over the medium term.
The A(H1N12) influenza virus strain (swine flu) is much less virulent than previously thought. It is no more likely to lead to serious complications or death than ordinary seasonal human influenza, say experts. However, WHO says it is still too early to predict which way this outbreak will go.
Influenza viruses may mutate if they come into contact with other flu viruses. If a person who is already ill with flu gets infected by the swine flu virus as well, that virus would have the opportunity to exchange genetic material with the virus present in the sick person – this could result in a mutation. Fortunately, the majority of mutated viruses are nowhere near as virulent as the Avian Flu Virus (H5N1).
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- Mexico – total cases 3648 – total deaths 72
- USA – total cases 5123 – total deaths 5
- Canada – total cases 496 – total deaths 1
- Costa Rica – total cases 9 – total deaths 1
- Japan – total cases 159
- Spain – total cases 103
- UK – total cases 102
- Panama – total cases 59
- France – total cases 14
- Germany – total cases 14
- Colombia – total cases 11
- Italy – total cases 9
- New Zealand – total case 9
- Brazil – total cases 8
- China – total cases 7
- Israel – total cases 7
- El Salvador – total cases 6
- Belgium – total cases 5
- Chile – total cases 4
- Cuba – total cases 3
- Guatemala – total cases 3
- S.Korea – total cases 3
- Netherlands – total cases 3
- Sweden – total cases 3
- Finland – total cases 2
- Malaysia – total cases 2
- Norway – total cases 2
- Peru – total cases 2
- Thailand – total cases 2
- Turkey – total cases 2
- Argentina – total cases 1
- Australia – total cases 1
- Austria – total cases 1
- Denmark – total cases 1
- Ecuador – total cases 1
- India – total cases 1
- Ireland – total cases 1
- Poland – total cases 1
- Portugal – total cases 1
- Switzerland – total cases 1
- Global – total cases 9830 – total deaths 79
Written by Christian Nordqvist