July 22, 2009
BANGKOK (AFP) - The swine flu death toll in Thailand rose to 44 on Wednesday, making it the country with the most reported fatalities in the Asia-Pacific region, officials said.
The death toll, almost double the figure released last week, surpassed that of Australia, where 38 deaths linked to the virus have been recorded.
"I am not surprised at the high number because there was a backlog from last week," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told AFP.
Thailand's public health ministry confirmed Wednesday that 6,776 people have been infected with the A(H1N1) virus -- less than half the number of cases reported in Australia.
Abhisit's cabinet has approved a 25-million-dollar budget for vaccines and anti-viral drugs to curb the spread.
