2nd flu death in South Africa disputed. What is the true number of swine flu infections/deaths? Answer, from here on out we'll never know

SHOOT: Heard [on 94.7 on 5 August]that there are 700 infections in South Africa now. This is confirmed in this IOL article. Here [below] are two different numbers - 229 and 480. Fact is we're in the dark from here on out as to how the numbers roll. All we'll really know is how infections rise in our immediate ciommunity. What I know is my domestic worker has had it, and a number of colleagues, which says it's essentially everywhere. It's not called a pandemic for nothing. Meanwhile, the SA public asre now transitioning from complacency to panic, especially in the Cape. Neither is the proper response. Heightened concern and alertness is the best you can do:

IOL: Swine flu panic is spreading across Cape Town with several schools emptying, doctors inundated with calls, and pathology laboratories buckling under the weight of specimens waiting to be tested.

SOWETAN: WHO’s latest bulletin records that as of last month 168 countries had reported swine flu cases, with all continents affected.

At July 31, there were 162380 recorded cases, with Africa’s total at 229, but the latest National Institute for Communicable Diseases figure for South Africa, supplied on Monday, was 480.

clipped from www.sowetan.co.za Number of people infected rising globally WHILE the number of people being diagnosed with swine flu continues to rise steadily around the globe and in South Africa, Dr Pete Vincent of Netcare Travel Clinics maintains that there is still no need to panic as most people who contract the H1N1 virus recover fairly quickly. Swine flu – medically known as the H1N1 virus – was first recorded in South Africa in June, and the country’s first recorded death was that of 22-year-old Stellenbosch University student Ruan Muller last week. Last night, national Health Department spokesperson Fidel Radebe disputed that a second South African had died of swine flu, saying the 44-year-old Durban man was not a victim of the pandemic. Radebe said the test results had been inconclusive, and that they could not do further tests because the man has already been buried in line with his religious requirements. The man from Phoenix died at Mount Edgecombe Hospital last Wednesday.