H1N1 FLU PANDEMIC

75,000 Brits could die of H1N1

LONDON – HEALTH officials say another 12 people in Britain have died of H1N1 flu and as many as 75,000 people could eventually be killed by the disease. The number is based on estimates that 1 in 3 people will get infected with the virus. But because there is no accurate way of predicting how many people will die from H1N1 flu, the numbers are speculative. Sir Liam Donaldson, Britain’s chief medical officer said the number could be anywhere between 3,000 and 75,000 deaths.

The World Health Organisation has previously estimated that 2 billion people worldwide could catch H1N1 flu. For most people, the virus is mild and no treatment is necessary. In its weekly H1N1 flu update, Britain’s health agency estimated there were 55,000 new cases of H1N1 flu last week and another 12 deaths, bringing the total number of British deaths to 29. France and Portugal recently announced major orders for vaccines against the A(H1N1) virus, soon after Latin American countries expressed concern that their poorer region could miss out, despite being worst-hit by the pandemic. Britain has also ordered 132 million doses of a flu vaccine: enough for 60 million people. — AFP, AP

SOURCE :
http://www.straitstimes.com
July 17, 2009

What are the symptoms of H1N1 (Swine Flu).

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