The swine flu is spreading to more countries around the world with the number of confirmed cases surging to more than 1,000, according to the World Health Organization.
Although most of the deaths took place in Mexico - a top tourist destination - WHO experts had suggested that the flu virus (H1N1) "is transmissible enough that we will expect to see continued community level outbreaks and regional spread."
Health officials have warned of a "second wave" of the virus which could be far worse.
The latest WHO data revealed 7,520 people in 34 countries were confirmed to have caught the influenza A (H1N1) virus, up 1,000 from Thursday (May 14, 2009).
The US has reported two more deaths, bringing the number of fatalities to five. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said only four states - Alaska, Mississippi, West Virginia and Wyoming - are still free from the outbreak.
Fresh updates of flu cases continue to trickle in with health authorities in Malaysia confirming two cases of influenza A (H1N1) virus on Friday and Ecuador had discovered its first case in the port city of Guayaquil.
However, some three weeks after warning against non-essential travel to Mexico, US officials are planning to relax a travel advisory to the Central American country where the flu first broke out.
The swine flu outbreak had ravaged Mexico's vital tourism industry and cost its economy billions.
WHO has declared the level of alert to Phase 5, one step short of a pandemic declaration.
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