WHO claims the reluctance of some hard-hit countries to adopt forceful measures against swine flu is responsible for the spread of A/H1N1 in many countries.

The latest figures show that nearly 89,921 infected cases including 382 deaths have tested positive for the new flu virus in 125 countries and regions across the globe. The rate is much higher than the 262 human deaths and 433 confirmed infections from H5N1 also known as the bird flu.

The infection toll in Mexico-- the epicenter of the flu -- has reached 10,687 cases, including 119 deaths. The US with some 34,000 confirmed cases and 170 deaths due to the virus is the worst hit country.

Argentina has seen the third most deaths from the virus, but it was not until late Friday that authorities brought the infection toll up to 100,000 cases and 44 deaths.

"An unfortunate situation in Argentina was this mix of elections and a pandemic, which we epidemiologists don't recommend," said Mirta Roses, director of the Pan American Health Organization.

Moreover, despite the rapidly growing number of infected cases in the country, Argentinean authorities have refused to declare a national public health emergency.

Britain, which has reported 7,447 swine flu cases, is the hardest-hit nation in Europe. While officials have predicted that by the end of August over 100,000 new cases will emerge per day, they have refused to do widespread testing for the virus thereby hampering WHO efforts to declare the pandemic spread of the virus.

Mexico, in contrast, deserves global gratitude for its forceful, costly, courageous and timely response to the flu.

The national shutdown in Mexico, which caused Cuba and Argentina to cancel flights to the country, helped slow the initial spread of the virus.

"Mexico gave the world an early warning, and it also gave the world a model of rapid and transparent reporting, aggressive control measures, and generous sharing of data and samples," said World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan.

PKH/HGH