The swine flu (H1N1) has killed 231 people around the world and infected another 52,160 others, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). On Monday, there are 21,449 confirmed cases in the United States, 7,624 cases in Mexico, 5,710 cases in Canada and 4,315 cases in Chile.
On June 11, the WHO upgraded the current outbreak to a Phase 6 pandemic, indicating dramatic and sustained global spread. Speaking to a delegation of world health officials, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan warned, “Although the pandemic appears to have moderate severity in comparatively well-off countries, it is prudent to anticipate a bleaker picture as the virus spreads to areas with limited resources, poor health care, and a high prevalence of underlying medical problems.”
“It is important to note that around one third to half of the severe and fatal infections are occurring in previously healthy young and middle-aged people. Without question, pregnant women are at increased risk of complications. This heightened risk takes on added importance for a virus, like this one, that preferentially infects younger age groups,” Chan added.
In the United States, there are a total of 21,449 confirmed cases and 87 deaths, spread across all 50 states including Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn: “It’s uncertain at this time how serious or severe this novel H1N1 pandemic will be in terms of how many people infected will develop serious complications or die from novel H1N1 infection.”
