Flu kills over 1,000 past week
November 29, 2009, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MORE than 1,000 deaths from the H1N1 swine flu virus were officially reported worldwide in the past week, a sharp rise which brings the global total to at least 7,826, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
More than half of the latest fatalities were reported by health authorities in the Americas region.
The winter flu season arrived early in the northern hemisphere this year and continues to be intense across parts of North America and much of Europe.
"In the United States and Canada, influenza transmission remains very active and geographically widespread," the WHO said, adding that the disease now appeared to have peaked in all US regions.
"In Canada, influenza activity remains similar but (the) number of hospitalizations and deaths is increasing," according to the WHO.
It is too early to say whether there has yet been a peak in infections in the northern hemisphere, the WHO's top flu expert said on Thursday, and it will be some weeks before there is a downward trend in the numbers of those catching the virus.
The H1N1 pandemic virus is causing widespread and increasing infections in Europe, with many reporting a rapid rise.
Sweden, Norway, Moldova and Italy are reporting "very high activity" and health care services are reeling under the strain in Albania and Moldova, it said. Flu has peaked in other European countries including Belgium, Ireland and Serbia.
Flu transmission is active in East Asia and remains "stably elevated" in Japan, but may be dropping slightly in cities, according to the agency.
More than half of the latest fatalities were reported by health authorities in the Americas region.
The winter flu season arrived early in the northern hemisphere this year and continues to be intense across parts of North America and much of Europe.
"In the United States and Canada, influenza transmission remains very active and geographically widespread," the WHO said, adding that the disease now appeared to have peaked in all US regions.
"In Canada, influenza activity remains similar but (the) number of hospitalizations and deaths is increasing," according to the WHO.
It is too early to say whether there has yet been a peak in infections in the northern hemisphere, the WHO's top flu expert said on Thursday, and it will be some weeks before there is a downward trend in the numbers of those catching the virus.
The H1N1 pandemic virus is causing widespread and increasing infections in Europe, with many reporting a rapid rise.
Sweden, Norway, Moldova and Italy are reporting "very high activity" and health care services are reeling under the strain in Albania and Moldova, it said. Flu has peaked in other European countries including Belgium, Ireland and Serbia.
Flu transmission is active in East Asia and remains "stably elevated" in Japan, but may be dropping slightly in cities, according to the agency.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
