Pandemic status for swine flu imminent
World Health Organization’s Keiji Fukuda, chief of that organization’s influenza group, said today that WHO is “getting closer” to declaring a stage 6 (pandemic) status for the A(H1N1) swine flu, according to the Associated Press.
Today’s update on WHO’s website had not yet appeared as of 2:26 pm EST, but early reports say WHO is setting the number of global infections at 18,965 across 64 countries, with 117 deaths. That number contrasts with the figures of 17,410 cases across 62 countries and 115 deaths posted on June 1.
India has reported two more cases of the “new” swine flu, bring that country’s total to three infections. Those individuals are being quarantined. Egypt has reported its first case of swine flu, despite having ordered the country-wide slaughter of all pigs.
Meanwhile, an 11-week-old child has become New York City’s fifth casualty to swine flu, according to reports from AP and the Daily News. The Daily News identifies the child as Steven Montanez, from the Bronx.
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