As the World Health Organisation (WHO) has decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6 recently, it would be best to know what the situation we have here in Asia. This H1N1 virus is contagious, spreading easily from one person to another, and from one country to another. And according to WHO, there are nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries already.
Although many report confirmed that the Influenza A (H1N1) cases has continued to rise in Asia Pacific region, from the 29,669 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 145 deaths in 74 countries, below are the number of confirmed cases from Asia Pacific region that have officially reported.
Country Cases Deaths
Australia 1307 0
China 188 0
India 9 0
Japan 549 0
South Korea 53 0
Malaysia 5 0
New Zealand 27 0
Philippines 77 0
Singapore 18 0
Thailand 8 0
Taiwan 36 0
Vietnam 23 0
*Data on 12 Jun 2009
With all above numbers still in concerns for everyone, the good news is that there were still no numbers of deaths from this disease within the region. All governances are now trying to take control over and be prepared to protect their citizens with policies to close down any risky areas with scanning any possibility ways of spreading. So, no worries if you’re planning to travel to Asia during this time, this region will still be a safe and welcomed place for everyone afterall.
For more information and updates on Influenza A (H1N1) in Asia, please visit the World Health Organisation (WHO ‘s website at http://www.who.int