The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an update on the current statistics of H1N1 swine flu symptoms around the world on November 20th, covering up until the 15th of November.

Viewed across the globe as a whole, the situation is largely unchanged since the last update.  While some areas seem to have peaked or are on the decline, others are still intensifying.  The Americas continue to have the highest case count, but the Western Pacific is quickly catching up in numbers; though that may be skewed as the total number of cases are no longer being reported by some areas in the Americas or in Europe.

H1N1 Swine Flu Symptoms in the Americas

In the US, the spread of the H1N1 virus and cases of H1N1 symptoms remains widespread across the nation, though it seems to have peaked in all areas except the northeast. In Canada, however, influenza transmission and swine flu symptoms continue to intensify without any sign of peaking, and is worst among children ages 5 to 19.Most of Central and South America, including the Caribbean, report declining numbers of new H1N1 symptom cases, with the exception of Peru and Columbia.

H1N1 Symptoms in Europe On the Rise

With the exception of a few Western Europe countries, such as Iceland, Ireland, and Belgium, H1N1 transmission and symptoms remain widespread and are increasing, particularly in northern, eastern, and southeastern Europe.  In a number of countries – including Spain, Portugal, Estonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Iceland, and Ireland – over half of all tested samples were positive for influenza, with over 99% of subtyped influenza A viruses being the pandemic 2009 H1N1 virus.

Asia Holding Steady Against Swine Flu Symptoms

Most of the H1N1 statistics out of Asia remain relatively steady.  Mongolia is still seeing intense influenza activity; in Japan, it is elevated but steady, with a slight decline in urban areas; China and Southeast Asia are still seeing some numbers of seasonal influenza instead of the pandemic H1N1 virus, but the proportion is dropping again in favor of the pandemic strain.