Geneva - The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of infections of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus rose to 2,099 in 23 countries, the World Health Organization said Thursday, and increased the death toll to 44. Its previous numbers, posted a day before, had the spread at 1,893 cases and 31 deaths. The rise reflected confirmed results from laboratory testing.
The health agency confirmed that Mexico had 42 deaths related to the disease. The United States, which reported two deaths, was the only other country to suffer fatalities.
Mexico had 1,112 laboratory-confirmed human cases, while the US had 642 such infections. Canada reported 201 instances, the WHO said.
In Europe, Spain remained hardest hit with 73 cases and Britain had 28 infections. Germany reported nine cases.
New Zealand had five cases and South Korea had two. Israel, the only Middle Eastern country to report cases, had four confirmed infections.
