Only 7 swine flu deaths, not 152, says WHO
- April 29, 2009
A street performer wears a mask painted silver in Mexico City.
A member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed claims that more than 150 people have died from swine flu, saying it has officially recorded only seven deaths around the world.
Vivienne Allan, from WHO's patient safety program, said the body had confirmed that worldwide there had been just seven deaths - all in Mexico - and 79 confirmed cases of the disease.
"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 today.
"That figure is not a figure that's come from the World Health Organisation and, I repeat, the death toll is seven and they are all from Mexico."
Ms Allan said WHO had confirmed 40 cases of swine flu in the Americas, 26 in Mexico, six in Canada, two in Spain, two in Britain and three in New Zealand.
Ms Allan said it was difficult to measure how fast the virus was spreading.
She said a real concern would be if the flu virus manifested in a country where a person had had no contact with Mexico, and authorities were watching all countries for signs of that.
"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.
She said the WHO was not recommending against overseas travel, but urged those who felt sick to stay home and others to ensure they kept their hands clean.
No decision had yet been made about vaccinations.
"This virus is not airborne, it's caused by droplets ... so it's not a time for worry. It's a time to be prepared," Ms Allan said.
Crude oil price drops
Oil prices dipped in Asia today as concern that a swine flu outbreak could undermine crude demand overrode optimism about an eventual recovery from a global slump.
Benchmark crude for June delivery was down 39 cents to $49.53 a barrel by midday in Singapore, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract Tuesday fell 22 cents to settle at $49.92.
AAP
Story Tools
- Got news tips for us? Send photos, videos & tip-offs to 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764), or email
Related Coverage
Sweeping new powers to detain, disinfect
29 Apr | THE Federal Government has secured sweeping powers to ...
Infections across the world
MAP TRACKER
Is swine flu caused by factory farming?
BLOG: Do we keep pigs in such bad conditions, whether in factory ...
Boredom, suspicion but expats plan to stay put
THE ARIA award-winning music outfit the Presets were among ...
Thieves use flu masks to hide faces
29 Apr | Three armed thieves wore the blue surgical masks now ...
More Related Coverage
Sweeping new powers to detain, disinfect
29 Apr | THE Federal Government has secured sweeping powers to combat swine flu as the number of possible cases under investigation in Australia rose to 91 last night.
MAP TRACKER Infections across the world
BLOG: Is swine flu caused by factory farming?
Do we keep pigs in such bad conditions, whether in factory farms or in backyard piggeries, that the outbreak of such diseases is inevitable?
Boredom, suspicion but expats plan to stay put
THE ARIA award-winning music outfit the Presets were among the Australians in Mexico City when the swine flu outbreak hit late last week, but the deadly virus did not deter revellers from their show.
Thieves use flu masks to hide faces
29 Apr | Three armed thieves wore the blue surgical masks now ubiquitous in flu-hit Mexico City to hide their faces as they robbed watches from a department store, Mexican media said.
VIDEO NZ confirms 3 swine flu cases
New Zealand confirms at least three swine flu cases, and raises the level of its national pandemic plan.
VIDEO Hoods protect workers from flu
Health care workers in Los Angeles learn how to use hooded masks to protect themselves from possible exposure to the swine flu virus.
VIDEO Flu bug hits global shares
Fears grow over the economic impact of the swine flu outbreak with renewed concerns in the banking sector.
Bid to change 'swine flu' name
29 Apr | US officials are reviewing whether to change the name of the "swine flu" outbreak, complaining that a slew of countries were misguidedly banning pork exports from North America.
Swine flu latest
29 Apr | Ninety-one Australians are being tested for the potentially deadly swine flu virus.
Mexican honeymoon ends in swine flu
29 Apr | They went to Mexico for their honeymoon, they came back with swine flu.
51 tested for swine flu in NSW
29 Apr | Another 51 people are being tested for swine flu in NSW, with one case sent to the World Health Organisation lab in Melbourne for further testing, health authorities have revealed.
First death outside Mexico, swine flu claims child
A 23-month-old child has died of swine flu in Texas, the first confirmed death in the United States as well as the first outside Mexico, the Centres for Disease Control said on Wednesday.
