Update: Swine flu cases on the rise

Saturday May 9, 2009 (foodconsumer.org) -- The World Health Organization today updated the outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) on its website saying that as of May 9, 2009, 3440 cases of influenza A(H1N1) flu also known as swine flu had been officially confirmed in 29 countries.

Among countries that have been hit hardest are Mexico, which has recorded 1364 human cases including 45 deaths, and the United States, which has suffered 1639 confirmed human cases of swine flu including two deaths in Texas, according to the WHO. Canada has confirmed 242 cases including one death.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Saturday afternoon on its website cited by FoxBusiness.com that 43 states and the District of Columbia confirmed a total of 2,254 confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu.

Other affected countries include Argentina (1), Australia (1), Austria (1), Brazil (6), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (12), Germany (11), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (7), Italy (6), Japan (3), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (5), Panama (2), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (88), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (34). But no deaths from H1N1 flu were reported in any of these countries.

The WHO does not recommend travel restriction. However, it suggests people who are ill should delay travel plans and returning travelers who become ill should seek medical attention. It has now known that people with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of serious complications resulting from H1N1 flu.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan has raised the global alert level last week to 5 out of 6 in response to the outbreak of H1N1 flu, meaning that a pandemic is imminent, Reuters said today.

(By David Liu)