Pandemic swine flu now in 74 countries; links to statistics and resources
Since it first hit Mexico in April, we’ve seen various waves of reaction to swine flu, from panic to nonchalance. But in the U.S. and internationally, the H1N1 virus has steadily been marching on, becoming increasingly widespread (though not more deadly).
And now, the World Health Organization has officially declared the virus a global flu pandemic, the first in 41 years. (The 1968 flu pandemic caused about 1 million deaths around the world.) According to an Associated Press report this morning: “The move came today as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.”
Though the spotlight was, for some time, on Mexico, on May 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. lifted its swine flu travel advisory there. As the disease has been more widely transmitted, it has affected tourism industries and individual tourists in various destinations, including Hawaii and Hong Kong.
According to the World Health Organization’s influenza A (H1N1) update on Wednesday, 74 countries have confirmed cases of swine flu, which total 27,737 worldwide. More than 140 related deaths have been reported, with a significant number (106) having occurred in Mexico, with 5,717 cases total reported thus far.
In the U.S., 13,217 cases of the swine flu have been reported. On Monday, an Orange County resident became the fourth person in California to die of swine-flu related causes.
Other countries topping the list with numbers of infected include Canada (2,446), Chile (1,694) and Australia (1,224), according to the WHO report.
For answers to common questions about the virus, consult the CDC’s H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and You page.
- Susan Derby, Special to The Times
[Photo: Volunteers during the 1918 flu pandemic. Credit: The Bettmann Archive]
4 Comments on “Pandemic swine flu now in 74 countries; links to statistics and resources”
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June 11th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Although this season’s flu shot will not protect someone from contracting swine flu, you can help protect your family/children by disinfecting shared household objects such as faucets and doorknobs, as well as reminding them to wash their hands. There is no human vaccine currently available that is specifically for swine flu. I work at Medicine Shoppe and our pharmacists are recommending two prescription antivirals, Tamiflu or Relenza, to help treat and/or prevent swine flu. Head to your local pharmacy for added advice.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
What makes WHO worry bout H1N1, the increased incidence rate and widespread pandemic or the fatality rate? AND WHY
June 12th, 2009 at 12:46 am
Australia is near top of infected countries. Most affected are in Melbourne. No one here cares as swineflu is not as severe the flu we expect annually. Total flu deaths this winter so far are less than usual.
Only people who are usually hysterical about everything, are worried. Listening to talk radio callers demanding their kids be injected with Tamiflu makes me think we should comply. Injecting a tablet into their child’s vein would certainly kill off that obviously dud line of breeding stock. In fact, if you’re worried about this flu mutating into something worse in 2010, local consensus is that it’s better to get it this year and maybe have greater resistance then. Said jokingly, but..
And what’s this emphasis on Tamiflu? Relenza is more efficacious and without side effects. I buy a fresh pack of Relenza every few years because who wants any sort of flu? Does that make me a technical hypochondriac even though I haven’t had cause to use it? No. It’s good to have prophylactics. You never know your luck.
July 14th, 2009 at 5:54 am
Interesting stuff. Did you hear that there’s a new strain which is resistant to the anti-flu drugs? Tamiflu etc? Found a really good website for tracking it’s progress, seems to be updated every hour or so… http://www.swinefludeaths.co.uk.