CAIRO: Egypt’s health ministry said that the total number of swine-flu related deaths in the country reached 258, with total of 15,832 people infected with the H1N1 virus.
The latest death is a 53-year-old Egyptian man from Assiut, according to a ministry statement.
The number of infected cases at schools reached 5,554 since the beginning of the academic year, and 852 at universities. The statement also confirmed that a total of 15,512 people have recovered, leaving 62 cases currently undergoing treatment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the spread of the H1N1 virus peaked in most of the northern hemisphere in October and November, but transmission was still active in parts of North Africa, eastern and southeastern Europe and south and East Asia.
As of Jan. 24 worldwide more than 209 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1, including at least 14,711 deaths, WHO said in its weekly bulletin.
According to AFP, the WHO said data suggested swine flu transmission was still active and geographically widespread, in North Africa particularly in Morocco, Algeria, Libya and Egypt.
The WHO added that the virus appeared to have peaked in North Africa in December or January.
The worst affected region has been the Americas, with at least 7,166 deaths from H1N1, while Europe has recorded at least 3,429 fatalities. -Daily News Egypt with additional reporting by AFP.
