New-flu infections in Japan surpass 500

TOKYO, June 10 Kyodo -
The number of people infected with the new strain of influenza A in Japan
surpassed 500 on Wednesday with eight prefectures across the country reporting
new cases.
Tottori and Miyagi prefectures each reported their first case, while a total of
28 people were newly found infected in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Kanagawa
and Chiba prefectures, bringing the nation's total to 516 as of Wednesday
evening.
The person in Tottori is an 8-year-old girl who lives in the United States but
was visiting the prefecture, while the person in Miyagi Prefecture is a
22-year-old female bus tour guide.
The rapid spread in Japan comes at the time when the World Health Organization
is set to raise the level of alert against the flu to the highest phase 6 later
this week and declare a global pandemic.
Phase 6 indicates sustained community spread of the virus in at least two
regions of the world.
At least 25,288 cases were reported in 73 countries so far, including 139 deaths.
==Kyodo