Swine flu deaths soar, Ukraine closes schools

Swine flu has killed at least 12,799 people worldwide since it first emerged in Mexico in March 2009, the World Health Organisation said Friday.The latest data posted by the UN health agency marked an increase of 579 deaths from the previous update published nine days ago.The Americas continues to report the biggest number of casualties with at least 6,880 deaths while in Europe, at least 2,554 people have died from the A(H1N1) virus.

The global death toll from swine flu approached the 16,000 mark as the pandemic waned in much of Europe and Asia, the World Health Organisation said Friday."As of 14 February 2010, worldwide more than 212 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 15,921 deaths," the WHO said in its latest update.The toll recorded since the A(H1N1) pandemic virus was first uncovered in Mexico and the United States last April grew by 629 compared to the previous week.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Friday ordered a three-week closure of Ukraine's schools and cinemas in the toughest measures adopted yet to combat the swine flu virus in Europe."From today, all the school establishments in Ukraine -- be they private or public -- will be put on three weeks of holiday," she told her cabinet in comments carried on Ukrainian television.Tymoshenko said the government would also be banning "all public gatherings, every concert and every cinema showing for three weeks."

More than 6,250 people have died in the swine flu pandemic, World Health Organisation data showed Friday, as the global death rate appeared to slow.The number of deaths from the A(H1N1) pandemic in the week to November 8 grew by about 179, against 224 a week earlier and a leap of about 700 in the last week of October.The pandemic now stretches across 206 countries or territories worldwide, the WHO added in a statement.

More than 6,250 people have died in the swine flu pandemic, World Health Organisation data showed Friday, as the global death rate appeared to slow.The number of deaths from the A(H1N1) pandemic in the week to November 8 grew by about 179, against 224 a week earlier and a leap of about 700 in the last week of October.The pandemic now stretches across 206 countries or territories worldwide, the WHO added in a statement on its website.

Ukraine raised its death toll from flu and respiratory problems on Monday, while Kiev's mayor suggested a Champions League match should be played without spectators amid a swine flu scare.Kiev had made an urgent appeal to world powers for help battling the spread of the A(H1N1) virus on Sunday, after declaring 60 people had died of respiratory complications and flu.The health ministry put this figure at 67 on Monday, without detailing when the deaths took place or explaining the jump in the toll.

China said Monday it had recorded 659 swine flu deaths in 2009, nearly all of them in the last two months of the year, and warned that the danger of mass outbreaks still existed in certain areas.The health ministry said the total number of A(H1N1) infections recorded since the virus was first detected last year stood at 120,940.At the end of October, the reported death toll stood at just six. The number of recorded deaths then spiked, reaching about 180 at the start of December and 659 by the end of the month.

China said Monday it had recorded 659 swine flu deaths in 2009, nearly all of them in the last two months of the year, and warned that the danger of mass outbreaks still existed in certain areas.The health ministry said in a statement that the total number of A(H1N1) infections recorded since the virus was first detected last year stood at 120,940.At the end of October, the reported death toll stood at just six. The number of recorded deaths then spiked, reaching about 180 at the start of December and 659 by the end of the month.