Wednesday, July 15, 2009

A/H1N1 flu cases surge over 10,000 in Australia

2009-07-15 13:39:02
CANBERRA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Australia's A/H1N1 flu cases have risen to 10,387, which is 10 percent more than WHO’S data.

Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon said on Wednesday the real number could be much higher, adding that 123 people were in hospital, with 58 in intensive care.

"There isn't testing for every person who might have a mild case of A/H1N1," she said.

Some 20 people with A/H1N1 flu have died in Australia, however, the virus has not yet been confirmed as the cause of death in any of these cases.

Australia is the worst-hit Asia-Pacific country, and has pre-ordered 21 million flu jabs, enough for its entire population, as laboratories race to prepare a vaccine.

Officials have expressed growing concern over the disease as it starts to contaminate the healthy people.

"We are seeing a few people that were previously well but are severely affected by the virus later," chief medical officer Jim Bishop said.

"There will be now some experience unfortunately with people who have been previously well."

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