H1N1 flu continues to spread worldwide, death toll 1462

Stockholm, Sweden, August 14: The death toll due to the H1N1 influenza continues to rise, as the lethal virus spreads its wings across the whole world, health officials inform.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) told in its report Wednesday that 873 fresh swine flu cases have been reported in the European Union and European Free Trade Association countries.

Swine flu scene world-wide
Around the globe, despite the governments taking all kinds of necessary steps to curb the menace, the total number of positive cases worldwide now stands at 35,025. The influenza H1N1 so far has caused 1,462 deaths worldwide since its outbreak in April, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

The following is the break-up of confirmed cases in individual countries:

France France has recorded around 1,000 swine flu cases so far and one death. The French government fears that the spread of the virus would accelerate once the schools reopen.

Greece In Greece, the total number of pandemic cases reported till Wednesday were 1,424, including 422 additional cases that were confirmed past week only.

Finland Finland on Wednesday confirmed its second case of swine flu in the Defense Forces, according to a statement released by the military.

Latin America In Latin America, where swine flu surfaced in April. More deaths have been reported in the last two weeks. The disease also inflicted high officials in Latin America.

Mexico With 17 more deaths in Mexico over the past two weeks, the death toll here has jumped to 163, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova informed Thursday. He confirmed that the government is ready to apply its first swine flu vaccine to cope with the disease.

Brazil Brazil remains the third largest country with maximum number of A/H1N1 deaths, after the U.S. and Argentina. It registered three more deaths due to the influenza Thursday, raising the death toll to 277.

Chile Chile confirmed a total of 105 H1N1 pandemic deaths reported till Thursday, while deaths in Argentina stood at 386 till Wednesday.

Nicaragua Nicaragua on Wednesday confirmed its first H1N1 death of a 30-year-old woman, the Health Ministry said.

Costa Rica The country’s President Oscar Arias has been quarantined at home, and is reported to be in a stable condition after testing positive for the pandemic disease, official sources revealed Wednesday.

Ecuador The country's Policy Minister Ricardo Patino was diagnosed with the lethal flu, the Health Ministry reported Thursday. He is currently being treated with anti-viral medicine at home.

IsraelThe lethal virus has also hit the Middle Eastern countries. Israel registered its eighth victim of the pandemic Wednesday, the Health Ministry said.

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabi confirmed two deaths due to the flu Thursday, bringing the death toll to 11. In Palestine, only one death has been reported so far.

Africa The situation in the African continent is more delicate, given widespread diseases, such as HIV and tuberculosis, that make people more vulnerable to the virus.

The government of South Africa has launched an intensive information campaign to help people cope with the pandemic and hold its spread, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said Thursday. The country has 1,910 confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu and three deaths so far.

Malaysia The pace of the pandemic has not eased in Asia, either. Malaysia reported seven more deaths from the flu, bringing the total number to 51 Thursday.

Thailand, Bangkok, Singapore, Vietnam Thailand's Public Health Ministry Tuesday announced 16 more deaths due to the flu, raising the country's death toll to 97. The flu has killed 22 people in Bangkok, 10 in Singapore, and two in Vietnam so far.

India: The swine flu menace has spread its wings to India as well. With 24 deaths so far, the H1N1 influenza is almost 1300 cases strong in the country.

Australia In Australia, Jim Bishop, country's chief medical officer, said Thursday that the number of H1N1 deaths in the country has reached 102 with 449 people being hospitalized and 109 in intensive care.

Tuvalu Even this small island nation of Tuvalu has not escaped the pandemic. Its first six cases of swine flu were confirmed Thursday, Radio Tuvalu reported.