WHO releases updated H1N1 Influenza data

Earlier today, the WHO (Word Health Organization, based in Geneva, CH) released this new data on documented cases of the H1N1 influenza.  There is no reason to panic, but keep an eye on the data. The previously called swine flu, or H1N1 influenza, is still spreading aggressively. The current strain is no more dangerous than the regular flu (with a death ratio < 1%; current h1n1 death ratio is 0.44%), but mutation will be the problem as infected cells copy themselves without verifying the accuracy of the copy, hence the high probability of mutation, with a particular concern of H5N1 and H1N1 crossing (H5N1 is the avian flu, which features > 60% death ratio).

26 June 2009 7:00 GMT  numbers for #H1N1 influenza 59,753 cases in 106 countries with 263 deaths

• 32 more countries since level 6 declaration 15 days ago (6/11/2009)
• 30,000 more cases since level 6 declaration 15 days ago
• 119 more deaths since level 6 declaration 15 days ago

WHO archives H1N1 data here

Top 10 countries

The US and Mexico represent more than half of all the documented cases, but numbers from  southern hemisphere countries (early winter season) are growing quickly; particularly in Argentina and Chile, which only had 5 and 74 cases and no deaths documented (respectively) a month ago.

Tags: H1N1 Influenza