WHO’s flu tally

GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its tally of laboratory-confirmed human cases of swine flu to 4,379 in 29 countries, with 49 deaths. WHO said on Sunday that Mexico has reported 1,626 lab-confirmed cases, including 45 deaths. The United States has 2,254 cases and two deaths. Canada has 280 cases to WHO, one death, and Costa Rica eight cases, one death. Spain has 93 cases, and Britain 39. France has 12 cases, Germany 11, Italy nine, Israel and New Zealand seven each, Brazil six, Japan four, Netherlands, Panama and South Korea three each and El Salvador two. — AP

Bangla boat tragedy

DHAKA: An overloaded boat sank on Sunday in eastern Bangladesh, leaving at least four people dead, a police official said. Krishna Pada Roy, the police chief in Chandpur district, said the rice-laden boat sank in strong currents in the River Meghna while it was carrying some 50 people. The area is 64 kilometres east of the capital, Dhaka. Roy said villagers immediately recovered four bodies, adding that he was not sure how many were missing. — AP

Suu Kyi unwell

YANGON: Myanmar’s detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has difficulty eating and has been taking fluids intravenously, her party said on Sunday, calling for the military government to allow a doctor to see the Nobel laureate. Suu Kyi’s primary physician was detained for questioning by the authorities Thursday after an American was arrested after allegedly sneaking into her closely guarded home and staying there for more than two days. — AP