EUR: Global swine flu infections pass 90,000: WHO
Tue Jul 7 03:42:09 EST 2009
GENEVA, July 6 AFP - Swine flu has infected 94,512 people worldwide and been blamed for 429 deaths since it was first detected in April, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.
The A(H1N1) virus has now spread to 136 countries and territories, the WHO said in its latest update, which shows 4,591 new cases and 47 more deaths since the last numbers released on Friday.
Argentina reported 34 more deaths -- the largest increase among all countries -- bringing its death toll to 60. The Argentine government has come under fire for what critics call a slow response to the virus's spread.
It now has the third-highest death toll, behind the United States with 170 and Mexico at 119.
Some affected countries no longer keep track of all cases according to the UN health agency, while others do not report for each of the thrice-weekly bulletins.
Australia is the worst-affected country in the Asia-Pacific region with 5,298 cases, followed by Thailand, on 2,076, where the number has gone up by 662 cases since the last report.
Britain remains the worst hit in Europe with 7,447 cases.
