[health-vn] INFLUENZA A(H1N1) CASES NOW REPORTED IN 33 COUNTRIES, SAYS UN HEALTH AGENCY

[Vern Weitzel]

Subject: INFLUENZA A(H1N1) CASES NOW REPORTED IN 33 COUNTRIES, SAYS UN HEALTH AGENCY
Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 19:00:13 -0400
From: UNNews <UNNews at un.org>
To: <news9 at secint00.un.org>

INFLUENZA A(H1N1) CASES NOW REPORTED IN 33 COUNTRIES, SAYS UN HEALTH AGENCY
New York, May 13 2009  7:00PM
The United Nations World Health Organization
(<"http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html">WHO) said today that 
33 countries have reported 5,728 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) 
infection as of today, with Cuba, Finland and Thailand the latest to join the list.

Mexico has reported 2,059 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, 
including 56 deaths, while the United States has reported 3,009 cases, including 
three deaths.

In addition, Cuba, Finland and Thailand have now been added to the list of 
countries that have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths.

Dr. Sylvie Briand of WHO’s Global Influenza Programme told reporters in Geneva 
that several things about the virus are already known, including that the virus 
transmits easily and that most of the cases are mild and don’t require treatment.

“However, we know also that there will be severe cases in people with underlying 
conditions, but also probably in young, healthy adults,” she added.

“What we are trying to do at the moment is gather as much information as 
possible on the virus and to provide this information to countries so that they 
can assess their level of vulnerability and then put in place interventions that 
are needed to fight this disease,” Dr. Briand stated.
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