GENEVA, April 9 (Saba) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday more than 213 countries and overseas territories or communities have confirmed 17,700 deaths of pandemic influenza, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported on Friday.

The current situation is largely unchanged since the last WHO update. The most active areas of pandemic influenza virus transmission continue to be in parts of Southeast Asia, West Africa, and in the tropical zone of the Americas.

In Chile, a country of the southern hemisphere temperate zone, there is evidence of early localized pandemic influenza virus transmission in advance of the usual start of the southern hemisphere winter influenza season.

Seasonal influenza type B viruses continue to actively circulate in East Asia, but are also being detected at low levels across other parts of Asia and Europe.
Saba