Flu cases in 29 countries balloon to 3,440 - data

MANILA, Philippines – The number of officially reported human cases of Influenza A(H1N1) infection worldwide rose to 3,440 (Update 23) on May 9 from 2,500 (Update 22) on May 8, data culled by GMANews.TV from the World Health Organization showed. The number of countries infected with the disease increased to 29 from 25, with the inclusion of the following countries with their corresponding number of laboratory-confirmed cases: * Argentina – 1 * Australia – 1 * Japan – 3 * Panama – 2 From a previous death toll of 46, the number of fatalities increased to 48 – 45 in Mexico, two in the United States, and one in Canada. A(H1N1) cases increased in four countries, which include: * Mexico – 1,364 cases from 1, 204 cases * US –1,639 from 896 * Canada – 242 to 214 * Brazil –6 from 4 The number of cases in the following countries did not change from May 8 to 9: * El Salvador – 2 * France – 12 * Germany – 11 * Israel – 7 * Italy – 6 * Netherlands – 3 * New Zealand – 5 * South Korea – 3 * Spain – 88 * United Kingdom – 34 Countries that remained with one case each are Austria, China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Costa Rica, Denmark, Guatemala, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported on May 9 (May 10, Manila time) that Costa Rica reported its first A(H1N1) flu death while the US announced its third death from the virus. The death toll in Mexico also increased to 48 from 45. This brings the global death toll to 53. The latest developments have yet to appear on the WHO’s updates. - GMANews.TV