The global death toll of the A/H1N1 pandemic influenza has risen to at least 12,799, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a latest update on Friday.

Of all the deaths, some 6,880 occurred in the Americas, while at least 2,554 were reported from Europe. The other four WHO regions, namely Western Pacific, South-East Asia, East Mediterranean and Africa, reported 1,361, 1,165, 708 and 131 deaths respectively.

The WHO's tally of global pandemic deaths is an under-representation of the actual numbers as many deaths are never tested or recognized as influenza related, the UN agency noted.

The A/H1N1 flu virus was first identified in Mexico in April, and the WHO declared the new influenza as a pandemic in June. So far the virus has caused infections in more than 208 countries and overseas territories or communities.

While pandemic activities have passed the peak in many countries of the northern hemisphere, notably the United States, Canada and some Western European countries, the transmission of the A/H1N1 flu virus remains highly active in a lot of other countries.

"The most active areas of pandemic influenza transmission currently are in parts of central, eastern and southeastern Europe, North Africa, and South Asia," said the WHO in its update.

WHO Director-general Dr. Margaret Chan warned last week that the A/H1N1 pandemic influenza is not over yet and the world needs to continue monitoring the evolution of the disease in the coming months, given the fact that flu viruses change constantly and the current "moderate" pandemic could become more fatal.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2010)