Swine flu: 2,000 affected

The number of people infected with the Swine flu -- A(H1N1) virus -- has topped 2,000 worldwide, the United Nations health agency has said, warning that though symptoms for the vast majority of the cases are mild, there is no room for complacency.

The World Health Organisation noted on Thursday international pandemic alert remains at phase 5, on a six-level warning scale, as the number of laboratory confirmed cases rose to 2,099  up by 441 from Wednesday  including 44 deaths.

Twenty-three countries have reported influenza A(H1N1) infections, with Mexico reporting 1,112 cases and 42 deaths, and the United States confirming 642 cases and two deaths.

"We continue to see human-to-human transmission community level transmission  primarily in North America, said WHO Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda at the agencys daily update.

"We are not seeing it yet anywhere else," he said, explaining the decision to maintain the pandemic alert level at phase 5.

Fukuda warned that the situation is still evolving and 'we really dont understand how things are going to go in the future'.