Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Death toll from A(H1N1) flu reaches 337 worldwide: WHO

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-03 13:07

CANCUN, Mexico: The death toll from the A(H1N1) flu pandemic have killed 337 people in 121 nations and the number of the total infected has exceeded 80,000, a top official of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

Most of the infected are young people and schools and homes are the places where people are most likely to be infected, WHO's Deputy Director -General Keiji Fukuda told a meeting on the A(H1N1) flu in Mexico's southeastern resort town of Cancun.

Full coverage:  A（H1N1） Influenza Outbreak Related readings:  2nd mass infection of flu in Beijing  Official: Flu patient didn't die from H1N1  Battle against H1N1 may develop new diagnosis  Mainland A (H1N1) flu cases rise to 915, one death  Brazil finds new strain of H1N1 virus  WHO: H1N1 flu pandemic now, 1st in 41 years

 He said the virus is more similar to H5N1 avian flu rather than the seasonal flu and the future of the disease is uncertain due to the mutations that the virus could present, he added.

According to Fukuda, the existing anti-viral medication remains the most effective means of tackling the disease.

He also echoed WHO Director-General Margaret Chan's remarks that the transparency of information and solidarity among governments are essential to tackling the first pandemic of the 21st century.

The meeting has attracted ministers and health experts from 43 nations.