WHO: 5,914 confirmed A/H1N1 cases worldwide

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-13-2009 14:01

World Health Organization and government data shows that by 9 am Wednesday Beijing time, cases of the A/H1N1 flu had been confirmed in 5,914 patients in 33 countries.

A Thai health official wears a protective mask during a press conference in Bangkok. (AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)

New cases were reported around the world, with Colombia confirming six, two cases each in Finland and Thailand, and one in China.

The United States has the most, with just over 3,000 cases confirmed in 45 states, some 700 other suspected cases and three deaths.

Mexico has 58 confirmed deaths and Canada and Costa Rica have each confirmed one death from the infection.

Meanwhile, a WHO official says most A/H1N1 flu patients do not require antiviral therapy to recover.

The organization says most people can get better with rest and hydration, so there's no need to treat all infections with antiviral drugs.

But the WHO has warned that the A/H1N1 flu virus could still mutate into a more virulent form and spark an influenza pandemic, that could circle the globe up to three times.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei