WHO says 7 dead worldwide from swine flu, not 150+ Mexico claims
By Michael Krebs.
Published yesterday by ■ Michael Krebs
World Health Organization official seeks to correct the death figures coming out of Mexico, saying that the numbers are not WHO-endorsed.
According to the World Health Organization, there have been just 7 deaths attributed to the H1N1 swine flu that originated in Mexico. The 7 recorded deaths are WHO figures and are reflective of the virus' impact globally.
The Mexican government has claimed that more than 150 people have died from the virulent flu strain, and this figure has sent governments around the world into preventative actions.
Vivienne Allan, a member of the World Health Organization's patient safety program, said that worldwide there had been just seven deaths - all of them in Mexico - and 79 confirmed cases of the disease globally.
"Unfortunately that [150-plus deaths] is incorrect information and it does happen, but that's not information that's come from the World Health Organisation," Ms Allan told ABC Radio, according to a report in Sydney Morning Herald.
While she said that it is difficult to measure the speed of the spreading virus, she acknowledged that a major concern would be if the strain appeared in a region where there was no prior Mexican link - indicating a general ecological evolution of the virus.
"There is no pattern that has emerged at this stage to be able to say that it is spreading in a particular way or it is spreading into a particular country ... the situation is continuing to evolve," she said, according to Sydney Morning Herald.
She confirmed that the virus is not airborne - but is instead spread through droplets. WHO is not yet recommending against overseas travel.