A/H1N1 flu spreads to 73 countries, southern hemisphere under watch

2009-06-09 12:50:16

BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 25,288 people in 73 countries have been confirmed to be infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus, the latest World Health Organization (WHO) tally shows. Updating its tally three times a week, the WHO on Monday added 14 more death cases, raising the total number to 139. Most of the new cases were reported by the United States, with 2,163 new infections, bringing its total confirmed cases to 13,217, including 27 deaths. Canadian health authorities said Monday laboratory tests confirmed an elderly woman from Quebec City had become the fourth Canadian to die of the A/H1N1 flu. Quebec's local health officials said the woman was over 65 years old but did not specify her exact age. She died three days after showing symptoms of a respiratory ailment, the officials said. Also on Monday, Alaska's state health authorities said five crew members on a cruise ship passing through Alaska last week tested positive for the A/H1N1 virus. All affected crew members were immediately isolated in their cabins after showing flu-like symptoms, and they were treated and subsequently recovered, said a statement from the ship's operator Holland America, owned by Carnival Corp. No passengers aboard the cruise, which was on a seven-day trip that ended in Seattle on June 5, had been diagnosed with the virus, the statement added. Meanwhile, the flu situation in Chile and Australia have been under watch of flu experts as the southern hemisphere entered the flu-prone winter season. So far, Australia reported a significant rise of 175 cases, bringing its total to 1,051 while Chile likewise saw its tally of confirmed cases grow by 42 to 411. Swimming Australia said Tuesday it decided to put off the Grand Prix meet, a top swimming game scheduled for June 20-21, due to the increased risks and quarantine levels surrounding the A/H1N1 flu outbreak. Officials said it may be rescheduled for later this year. In Mexico, epicenter of the A/H1N1 outbreak, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said Monday that the epidemic in the country was now under control and a flu alert here might by removed later this month. The latest confirmed cases in the country were reported last Wednesday and the last death was on May 31, raising the number of fatalities to 106. Cordova said Mexico will host an international summit on the A/H1N1 flu at the Caribbean beach resort of Cancun next month. Representatives from 40 countries and the directors general of the WHO and the Pan American Health Organization will take part in the summit on July 1-3, he said.