Swine flu toll reaches 14,142: WHO

(AFP/ Bay ISMOYO)

The death toll from the swine flu pandemic has risen to at least 14,142, up 588 from a week ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday.

Announcing its latest data on the dpread of A(H1N1) virus, the UN health body said North Africa, South Asia and limited areas of Eastern Europe were now seeing the most intense transmission of the virus.

The pandemic in the northern hemisphere peaked between late October and late November, WHO said.

Since the virus first appeared in Mexico last year, the Americas have recorded the greatest number of fatalities, with at least 7,094 deaths.

At least 3,099 have died in Europe and at least 2,877 in the east Asia and Pacific region, WHO said.

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