MOSCOW, May 17 (RIA Novosti) - The global caseload of human swine flu cases has reached 8,480 in 39 countries, the World Health Organization said in an update released on Sunday.
However, the death toll remains unchanged at 72, of which almost all cases are in Mexico and the United States.
"Mexico has reported 2895 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 66 deaths. The United States has reported 4714 laboratory confirmed human cases, including four deaths," the report said.
The other two fatalities were in Costa Rica and Canada.
Despite the widespread alarm caused by the outbreak of swine flu last month, leading scientists say the virus is a mild strain and only a further mutation would make it a serious threat. Swine flu deaths in Mexico, the worst hit by the virus, are around average for seasonal flu fatalities.
