Venezuela reports more H1N1 cases

CARACAS - A total of 1,538 cases of infection with influenza A (H1N1) virus were reported across Venezuela by June 8, the Ministry of Health said Wednesday.

The latest number marked an increase of 430 cases from the last official report, issued on June 12.

The cases mainly concentrated in Venezuela's coastal and western states and districts, with Merida state leading with 867 cases and followed by Tachira state, Caracas, Zulia state and Lara state.

In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a strain of swine-origin H1N1 as a pandemic. The disease had killed more than 18,000 people across the world before the WHO announced the end of the pandemic in August 2010.

Though not lethal, the H1N1 virus can aggravate an already weak immune system, and therefore poses a greater risk to such groups as the elderly, the pregnant and those suffering from cancer, AIDS, diabetes and heart problems.

The higher-risk population are urged to seek medical attention if suffering from severe flu symptoms and to get vaccinated.