The WHO said on its website that the United States had reported 109 confirmed human cases, including one death, while Mexico reported 97 confirmed human cases, with seven deaths.
Laboratory cases, with no fatalities, have also been reported by Canada (19), Spain (13), Britain (8), New Zealand (3), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), Switzerland (1) and Austria (1).
Despite the fact that the illness has so far only officially claimed eight lives, the outbreak has sparked a number of dramatic media reports suggesting future death tolls "could" be in the tens of thousands or even millions.
The global health body said well-cooked pork and pork products carry no risk of infection from the virus.
The head of Russia's Flu Research Institute said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Thursday that Russian scientists could create a vaccine to combat swine flu in three months.
