Spike in swine flu deaths, global toll 7826

This year, the winter flu season has arrived before time in the northern hemisphere. It is severe across parts of North America and much of Europe.

With the onset of winter, the worst fears are coming true. The H1N1 has accounted for as many as 1,000 deaths in the past week alone, raising the global death toll due to the virus to at least 7,826, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

Americas reels under flu
More than fifty percent of the latest fatalities have been recorded in the Americas region where 554 people succumbed to the virus. Europe alone reported 300 deaths in the previous week.

"In the United States and Canada, influenza transmission remains very active and geographically widespread. In Canada, influenza activity remains similar but (the) number of Hospitalizations and deaths is increasing," confirmed the WHO.

Experts differ in opinion whether the current wave of swine flu is at its peak or the worst is yet to come. Most opine that it will take a while before there is a downward trend in the numbers of those getting infected by the virus.

European countries, including Belgium, Ireland and Serbia, have reported widespread and increasing infections. “Very high activity" has been reported from Sweden, Norway, Moldova and Italy.

The dreaded virus has gripped Albania and Moldova where health care services have been put under immense pressure.

According to the data divulged by the United Nations health agency, the H1N1 is active in East Asia and it remains "stably elevated" in Japan.

Mutations should not be a cause of concern
So far, scientists have identified 1200 mutated strains of the virus. These mutated and resistant strains play an indeterminate role in the death toll.

The WHO has, so far, been unable to identify a definite trend of progression in these strains. Some of these flu strains may be innocuous while the others may be fatal.

Tamiflu resistant virus has been found in about 75 people around the world, said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, chief flu adviser to the WHO’s director general. The high mutability of the virus is not good news though. However, if the virus follows the normal pattern of mutation, only a few strains will be hazardous.

This is not to say that medical fraternity should throw caution to the wind. Referring to the speed with which a flu can mutate, Dr. Fukuda said that announcing each change is “like reporting changes in the weather”.