H1N1 Statistics — 1 November 2009
Worldwide Swine Flu Deaths from the World Health Organization
Nov 6, 2009
As the H1N1 pandemic marches into the fall and winter months, the world is expected to have an unusually turbulent flu season. Here are the most recent November 2009 swine flu statistics and death count from the World Health Organization (WHO).
H1N1 and Swine Flu This Week: October 26—November 1, 2009
This week, 371 swine flu related deaths worldwide were reported to WHO. Congo reported its first official case of H1N1, and Afghanistan, Croatia, Mongolia, Tanzania and Ukraine reported their first H1N1 related deaths.
In North America, the percentage of doctor visits for flu-like symptoms rose to 8%, with the percentage of respiratory samples testing positive for H1N1 at 42%. Some countries report higher percentages of H1N1 positive tests: 81% in Northern Ireland and 69% in Belgium.
Worldwide Statistics of Swine Flu Deaths
According to WHO statistics, there have been 6071 swine flu-related deaths in humans worldwide as of November 1, 2009. The situation was officially labeled a phase 6 global pandemic in July, which is the peak phase of a pandemic.
A total of 199 countries and territories have now reported H1N1 cases to WHO, with a combined recorded total of 482,300 cases. The actual case number is much larger, however, since countries are no longer required to report individual occurrences of swine flu and many have stopped doing so.
Approaching Flu Season
Both seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza are expected to increase during the upcoming fall and winter months. WHO statistics show a remarkably early start to the flu season. Getting an H1N1 vaccination is highly recommended.
As Canada in the northern hemisphere begins to experience fall and winter climate change, for example, the country is reporting a greater number of H1N1 influenza incidences, hospitalizations, and fatalities. This pattern is expected to follow in other countries as colder weather sets in.
H1N1 Worldwide Trends
WHO also reports that the incidence of swine flu is increasing in East Asia. China was previously seeing seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza with roughly equal frequency, but now H1N1 is the predominant type of influenza in the country.
Though H1N1 seems to be advancing in most countries, it is declining in India and most of South America. Media reports in areas of Africa indicate decreases, but these are yet to be officially confirmed by WHO.
Human-to-Animal Transmission of H1N1
WHO is also seeing cases of human-to-animal transmission of the H1N1 virus, namely to pigs, turkeys, ferrets, and cats. This is a normal occurrence as H1N1 becomes more widespread among the human population, and WHO does not anticipate that this will have any adverse impact on the human H1N1 pandemic. Human-to-human transmission continues to be the primary method for the spread of the swine flu virus.
These H1N1 death statistics and information from the World Health Organization can help keep the world appraised of the swine flu pandemic situation. In November 2009, H1N1 cases and complications are expected to increase in just about every area of the globe as flu season officially sets in. Some areas report a mild decrease in the intensity of H1N1, but the world is predicted to experience a heavier volume of cases and deaths throughout the winter months.
Stay updated with the most recent information on the swine flu pandemic at This Week's H1N1 Deaths and Statistics.
Source:
Pandemic H1N1 2009 - update 73, World Health Organization.
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