The death toll in the swine flu pandemic has passed the 1,000 mark, with 1,154 deaths since the outbreak was uncovered in April, data published yesterday by the WHO showed.
Swine flu now reaches 168 countries and territories, the WHO said in its latest update on its Web site.
As of last Friday, Azerbaijan, Gabon, Grenada, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Monaco, Nauru, Swaziland, and Suriname were added to the ranks of countries reporting laboratory confirmed cases of influenza H1N1.
A little more than a week ago on July 27, the WHO reported 816 deaths around the world.
The total number of laboratory confirmed infections worldwide reached 162,380, but the figure understates the full number since indvidual cases no longer have to be tested or reported.
Most of the deaths — 1,008 —- have occurred in the WHO’s America’s region, encompassing North and South America and including Mexico and the US, the countries where the H1N1 pandemic strain first appeared.
Sixty-five deaths were reported in the WHO’s regional office for South East Asia and 39 in its Western Pacific region since the outbreak began. Forty-one were reported in Europe.
By comparison, seasonal flu causes about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths a year, and results in between 3 million and 5 million cases of severe illness, the WHO said.
Meanwhile, Thai health authorities yesterday announced 16 more swine flu fatalities in the week up to Sunday, bringing the country’s death toll to 81.
Malaysia’s health ministry yesterday confirmed that four people infected with swine flu have died, raising the country’s toll to 12.
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Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
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