Thousands of Australians may die from influenza A / H1N1

About 6,000 people could die from A / H1N1 flu in Australia this season as a "worst case scenario" without preventive measures or preventive vaccines, Health Minister Nicola Roxon warned.

According to data from the domestic health agency, the new influenza epidemic has caused 21 deaths in Australia by this time and caused 10,387 cases.

" We can see about 6,000 deaths across the country ," Roxon said on local radio. " This is really the worst scenario ."

The World Health Organization has confirmed 429 deaths from influenza A / H1N1 and 94,512 people infected worldwide. However, this number is only part of the reality.

A nurse wears an anti-influenza mask at a clinic in a Melbourne suburb

Influenza A / H1N1 is an ' outstanding' flu in Australia when winter is happening in the southern hemisphere. The government has ordered 21 million doses of vaccine to prevent disease. However, vaccines are still in development research.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least one million people have contracted H1N1 and the virus is spreading out of control.

According to experts' estimates, the death rate from H1N1 is similar to the mortality rate due to the regular seasonal flu , which kills 250,000 - 500,000 people worldwide each year.

Yesterday, interviewing the Guardian newspaper of the UK, WHO Director General Margaret Chan said: " There is no vaccine, as early as August. But vaccines do not mean that the vaccine has been proven to be The clinical trial data will only be released two to three months after the vaccine appears '.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon (Photo: AAP)