Cuba announces first swine flu deaths

Cuba announces first swine flu deaths
(AFP) – 9 hours ago

HAVANA — Cuba announced that three pregnant women died after contracting
swine flu, the first report of A(H1N1) casualties on the communist island.

"We unfortunately have to regret three confirmed cases of people who
died" of swine flu, Deputy Health Minister Jose Angel Portal Miranda
said on a television news program.

He did not say when the three women died.

According to government officials, the number of confirmed H1N1 cases in
the country stands at 621 people, including 177 children.

National Epidemiology Director Manuel Santin said around 30 percent of
the cases were "imported" by tourism to the island, which hosts 2.5
million visitors a year.

According to the latest World Health Organisation figures, at least
4,525 people have died from swine flu infections since the virus was
uncovered in April.

This is an increase of 417 fatal cases from a week ago when 4,108 deaths
were recorded, the UN health agency said in its weekly update of the
pandemic.

Most deaths occurred in the Americas region, where 3,292 fatalities have
been reported.

AFP: Cuba announces first swine flu deaths (10 October 2009)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5izMtVXUSAR7rYdp2Z-FpNLdcNUPA