Swine flu toll reaches 12,799

(AFP/FABRICE COFFRINI)

Swine flu has killed at least 12,799 people worldwide since it first emerged in Mexico in March 2009, the World Health Organisation said Friday.

The latest data posted by the UN health agency marked an increase of 579 deaths from the previous update published nine days ago.

The Americas continues to report the biggest number of casualties with at least 6,880 deaths while in Europe, at least 2,554 people have died from the A(H1N1) virus.

hmn/co