Pandemic claims more than 6,200 lives worldwide
Saturday November 14 2009
More than 6,200 people worldwide have now died from swine flu, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday.
The virus has spread to 206 countries and territories and resulted in at least 6,260 deaths.
Most deaths have been in the Americas, where 4,512 have died since the start of the pandemic.
South East Asia has witnessed 678 deaths and there have been at least 300 in Europe, including more than 16 in Ireland, the latest update showed. The WHO said the virus was showing "early signs of peaking in parts of North America but is intensifying across much of Europe and central and eastern Asia."
Canada has reported sharp increases in rates of swine flu, including school outbreaks.
The WHO said the virus may have peaked in some areas, including Northern Ireland, where 11 people have died, compared with previous weeks.
Yesterday, Irish figures showed the rate of swine flu had fallen, although it is estimated 27,000 people fell ill with it last week, and 191 are hospitalised.
- Jane Kirby
Irish Independent
