Over 15,510 Bird Flu A(H1N1) Human Cases Confirmed Worldwide, Including 99 Deaths

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Main Category: Swine Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Public Health
Article Date: 30 May 2009 - 9:00 PDT

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The WHO (World Health Organization) reported yesterday evening that the total number of swine flu A(H1N1) confirmed human cases of infection has exceeded 15,510, including 99 deaths. The real figure is higher because there is a delay between local health authority reports and the WHO global report. The A(H1N1) influenza virus is nowhere near as virulent (aggressive, dangerous) as was originally feared. Experts say it is not more deadly than normal seasonal human influenza.

Below is a geographical breakdown of laboratory-confirmed total cases, and total deaths.
These figures may vary from local reports, this is because it takes time to collate them all. Wherever there is a discrepancy, the local health authority reports will be more up-to-date:
(Source: World Health Organization)

• USA - total cases 7927, total deaths 11 (CDC reports 8,975 cases, 15 deaths)
• Mexico - total cases 4910, total deaths 85 (Health Ministry reports 5029 cases, 97 deaths)
• Canada - total cases 1118, total deaths 2 (Health Canada reports 1336 cases, 2 deaths)
• Costa Rica - total cases 33, total deaths 1


• Japan - total cases 364
• UK - total cases 203 (HPA reports 229 cases, no deaths)
• Chile - total cases 165
• Australia - total cases 147 (Health Dept reports 254 cases, no deaths)
• Spain - total cases 143 (Health Ministry reports 167 cases, no deaths)
• Panama - total cases 107


• Argentina - total cases 37
• Rep. of Korea - total cases 33
• Ecuador - total cases 32
• Peru - total cases 31
• China - total cases 30
• Italy - total cases 26
• France - total cases 21
• Germany - total cases 19
• Kuwait - total cases 18
• Colombia - total cases 17
• El Salvador - total cases 11
• Israel - total cases 11
• Brazil - total cases 10


• New Zealand - total cases 9
• Belgium - total cases 8
• Philippines - total cases 6
• Guatemala - total cases 5
• Cuba - total cases 4
• Norway - total cases 4
• Poland - total cases 4
• Singapore - total cases 4
• Sweden - total cases 4
• Switzerland - total cases 4


• Finland - total cases 3
• Greece - total cases 3
• Ireland - total cases 3
• Netherlands - total cases 3
• Romania - total cases 3
• Dominican Rep - total cases 2
• Malaysia - total cases 2
• Russia - total cases 2
• Thailand - total cases 2
• Turkey - total cases 2
• Uruguay - total cases 2


• Austria - total cases 1
• Bahrain - total cases 1
• Czech Republic - total cases 1
• Denmark - total cases 1
• Honduras - total cases 1
• Iceland - total cases 1
• India - total cases 1
• Portugal - total cases 1
• Slovakia - total cases 1

Grand Total - total cases 15510, total deaths 99

Joe Quinby, spokesperson for the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA), says the total number of human cases of infection in the USA may be 100,000 - many people who became infected did not go to see a doctor and self-treated.

Experts say it is too early to decide whether or not swine flu may develop into an aggressive global pandemic. All indications are that it will not. However, viruses have the ability to mutate. The swine flu virus could mutate if it infected somebody who already has normal human flu. The two viruses would then have the opportunity to exchange genetic material - the result could be a new, mutated virus. Nevertheless, even if this happened, experts believe the mutation would most likely not lead to a new virulent strain.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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