A/H1N1 flu outbreak to peak at end of month in Spain: minister

Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez said Tuesday she expected the outbreak of the A/H1N1 flu in Spain to peak at the end of November.

Contagion rates in Spain have been climbing all autumn, with last week's levels standing at 182.45 cases per 100,000 inhabitants following 80,981 new cases, the Ministry of Health said.

That was a sharp rise from the previous week when the level of infection stood at 101.22 cases per 100,000 and 45,323 new cases were reported.

Jimenez appealed for calm over the illness that has so far claimed more than 60 lives in Spain.

"A greater level of contagion does not mean that the disease has become more serious," she said.

Jimenez also made it clear that Spain has enough anti-viral drugs to fight the outbreak.

"Everyone who needs an antiviral is guaranteed to receive it through the public health system," she said.

Source: Xinhua