UN swine flu tally approaches 40,000

Swine flu has infected nearly 40,000 people around the world in 89 countries and territories, causing 167 deaths since late March, latest World Health Organisation data showed Thursday.

Since the last data released on Monday, some 3,692 new cases of A(H1N1) virus were reported taking the total to 39,620, along with four more deaths, including three in Canada and one in Argentina.

The biggest jump in cases was recorded in Canada, where the tally went up by about one-third to 4,049 cases.

The disease also gained ground in the southern hemisphere, with 641 new cases in Chile (total 2,335), and 390 more in Argentina (733).

In the Asia-Pacific region, Australia remained the most infected country with 2,112 cases, an increase of 289 since Monday, while in Thailand reported a surge in its caseload from 29 to 310 and the Philippines recorded 116 new cases (total 193).

The United States remains the most infected country with 17,855 cases. The US death toll was reduced by one to 44 following an unspecified closer analysis.

The disease also progressed in Britain with 235 additional cases (total 1,461) and one death.

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.

The WHO on Thursday also started separate counts for overseas dependent territories such as Bermuda and Jersey, which are British possessions, and French Polynesia and several Caribbean islands.

(c) 2009 AFP

   

• JLW - Jun 18, 2009
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  "The United States remains the most infected country with 17,855 cases. The US death toll was reduced by one to 44 following an unspecified closer analysis."
  
  You appear to be about 50 behind the actual US death toll. Here is a link to the actual US numbers as of this morning:
  
  http://en.wikiped...d_States
  
  
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• Nan2 - Jun 19, 2009
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  There are some extremely serious gaps in reporting and methods of gathering information. The MMWR and press report reveal lack of coordination, slow information dissemination and even CDC policy recommendations for health care workers on the front lines. States are now only reporting about hospitalized cases, the estimates of those going to clinics and ERs seeking treatment are simply that, estimates.
  
  Disturbingly, Tamiflu and antivirals side effects are preventing hospital workers from those prophylaxis uses on nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Some stop it while others simply refuse it. Guidelines on protective gear for hospital workers treating H1N1 cases are not complete. Eye protection isn't used uniformly, debate over the use of respirators vs face masks still goes on and many workers are not using some of these common sense measures to prevent contracting or spreading within the hospital setting beyond rigorous hand-washing. Isolation of patients also require proper negative pressure ventilation to prevent spread throughout hospital air systems.
  
  Hospitals are notoriously bad in policy regarding sicktime for its workers. CDC are now asking they change policy to prevent further spread of this virus to vulnerable patient and from patient to worker to worker to patient, as evidently has now been documented.
  
  http://www.cdc.go...0618.htm
  
  
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