Geneva - The global tally of patients infected with swine flu has hit 94,512, with 429 deaths, World Health Organization statistics showed on Monday. Most of the infections were in the Americas, particularly the United States, though thousands of cases have been reported across, Europe, Asia and Australia.
The WHO has declared the A(H1N1) virus, as it is technically known, as a pandemic, but has stressed the severity of the illness is mostly moderate.
A Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunizations and vaccines was set to be convened by the WHO on Tuesday in Geneva, and would discuss the new virus among other topics.
Companies manufacturing vaccines say they will likely have one for swine flu ready by the autumn.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said his organization might require 1 billion dollars to cope with the spreading disease, particularly to help poorer countries with weaker health systems.
