Global Health

Worldwide Deaths from Swine Flu Jump 1,000 In A Week

by Mike Smith

category: Swine Flu And Pandemics

Published November 27, 2009 @ 09:35AM PT

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The number of world wide deaths from the H1N1 virus Swine Flu has jumped by 1,050 in a week, to 7,820, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The total death toll from Swine Flu has reached at least 7,826 worldwide, with the biggest rise being shown in the Americas where 5,360 people have died.

Mutations of the virus may be increasing its ability to effect respiratory tracts. Some patients being infected by a mutated virus are noted to be resistant to oseltamivir, the main drugs being used to treat Swine Flu, known by the brand name Tamiflu. These case are the first drug resistant strains discovered, but lucky for us, the effectiveness of vaccines is not being questioned.

It's currently unclear whether mutations to the virus are making it more easily contractable or severe problems. Keiji Fukuda, WHO's special adviser on pandemic influenza, explained: "What we're trying to do when we see reports of mutations is to identify if these mutations are leading to any kinds of changes in the clinical picture -- do they cause more severe or less severe disease?" Tamiflu remains an effective treatment for Tamiflu, and mutations are not necessarily something to be worried about, but something it's essential to stay aware of as the weather gets colder and more people contract the virus.

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