At least 1,799 people have died of swine flu since April, the World Health Organization reported today in its latest global tally, according to dpa. The figures showed that that 182,166 infections had been confirmed by national health authorities, though the total number of people who had contracted the disease was higher. The Americas remained hardest hit, with at least 105,882 infections and 1,579 deaths. Europe had more than 32,000 cases and 53 deaths, while South-East Asia had over 13,172 infections, of which 106 were fatal. WHO data on the pandemic influenza A(H1N1), as the virus is technically known, is accompanied by a disclaimer which notes: "given that countries are no longer required to test and report individual cases, the number of cases reported actually understates the real number of cases." Swine flu has spread globally, though medics say it is mostly mild. Vaccine production is under way at various pharmaceutical companies in several countries and anti-viral drugs are generally effective against the disease once contracted.
