Number of Swine Flu Cases Leaps Over Weekend, WHO Says

GENEVA, June 22 -- The World Health Organization on Monday reported a huge leap in cases of swine flu around the world to more than 52,000 people infected and 231 dead.

The toll has risen by more than 7,873 cases and 51 deaths since Friday, highlighting the steady spread of the virus.

The United States led a group of countries that have seen dramatic increases in cases, according to the new WHO figures. There were an additional 3,594 cases since Friday, taking the U.S. total to 21,449 with 87 deaths.

Mexico was stable with more than 7,600 cases and 113 deaths.

Swine flu has now been reported in 100 countries and territories, and figures yet to be incorporated into the U.N. health agency's official figures indicate an even higher toll. The Philippines has reported the first swine flu death in Asia. Iran joined the countries reporting their first cases, while Singapore quarantined a Hong Kong football team.

Chile, which is entering the Southern Hemisphere winter, has also been badly hit, with a total of 4,315 cases, including four deaths.

There have been 5,701 cases in Canada, along with 13 deaths.

Britain remains the worst-hit country in Europe. It has recorded 2,506 cases, including one death.

Australia has had 2,436 cases, with one death. Japan has had 850 cases; China, 739.

A 49-year-old woman in the Philippines became Asia's first fatality linked to swine flu, health authorities said.

The WHO said, however, that its figures could not be considered reliable because some countries were no longer keeping total figures while other poor countries did not have the means to reliably detect cases.