Brasilia, September 17: Brazil has registered 899 deaths from swine flu, maintaining its status as the country worst-hit by the pandemic, the Health Ministry in South America’s largest nation has said.
In announcing the data, the Ministry also said that the number of serious cases in the country “fell for the fifth straight week,” indicating a reduction of the spread of the A(H1N1) virus.
Brazil became the country with the highest death toll in late August when it surpassed the United States, which now has 593 swine-flu-related fatalities. Brazil’s neighbour Argentina has 512 deaths.
In its latest bulletin, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that as of September 6 the virus has killed at least 3,205 people worldwide after being discovered in March this year in Mexico.
Southeastern Sao Paulo state has been the worst hit, with 327 deaths, followed by Parana in the south with 222. Rio de Janeiro has recorded 84 deaths. On Tuesday, the WHO warned swine flu will have a “devastating effect” on poor countries where lives will be lost due to ill-equipped health care facilities.
K’taka swine flu deaths rises to 73: total 214 in India”The pandemic will test the world on the issue of fairness in a substantial way,” WHO chief Margaret Chan said in a speech in Copenhagen.
–Agencies