A/H1N1 influenza death toll rises over 3,900, says WHO

GENEVA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- About 3,917 people worldwide have been killed by the A/H1N1 influenza since the new flu virus was identified in April, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a latest update on Friday.

A worker inspects a glove at the factory of Top Glove in Kelang,  outside Kuala Lumpur September 25, 2009. Shares of Malaysia's rubber glove makers have sky-rocketed since the outbreak of the H1N1 virus sent global demand for health-protection products soaring. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Of all the deaths, 2,948 occurred in the Americas, followed by the West Pacific region, with 362 deaths. The other four WHO regional offices, South-East Asia, Europe, East Mediterranean and Africa reported 340, 154, 72 and 41 deaths respectively.

The WHO, which declared the A/H1N1 flu as a pandemic in June, said the total number of lab confirmed cases worldwide is now over318,925, but this case count is significantly lower than the actual number of cases that have occurred because more and more countries have stopped testing and reporting individual cases, particularly milder ones.

In the northern hemisphere, where winter is approaching, influenza activity continues to increase in many areas. But in the southern hemisphere, influenza transmission has largely returned to baseline or is continuing to decline, the agency said.

Editor: Zhang Ning | Source: Xinhua