Nations no longer counting pandemic flu cases; last US estimate in July, stuck at 1 million. U.S. health officials have lost track of how many illnesses and deaths have been caused by the first global flu epidemic in 40 years.

U.S. health officials have lost track of how many illnesses and deaths have been caused by the first global flu epidemic in 40 years.

European Union nations adopted joint rules for combatting swine flu Thursday in hopes of preventing contradictory decisions that could fuel public anxiety.

Mexico's gets praise, Argentina and Britain criticism for swine flu response as caseload grows. As swine flu runs rampant in the Southern Hemisphere winter, world health experts are concerned that some hard-hit countries have been reluctant to take forceful measures to protect public health.

As swine flu runs rampant in the Southern Hemisphere winter, world health experts are concerned that some hard-hit countries have been reluctant to take forceful measures to protect public health.

Swine flu is running wild in the Southern Hemisphere and is spreading rapidly through Europe, with Britain projected to reach 100,000 daily cases by the end of August. The virus is even showing signs of rebounding in Mexico.

World health officials tackle swine flu pandemic, spreading in Southern Hemisphere, Europe. Swine flu is running wild in the Southern Hemisphere and is spreading rapidly through Europe, with Britain projected to reach 100,000 daily cases by the end of August. The virus is even showing signs of rebounding in Mexico.

The global financial meltdown has pushed the ranks of the world's hungry to a record 1 billion, a grim milestone that poses a threat to peace and security, U.N. food officials said Friday.

UN: More than 1 billion are hungry around the world; economic downturn worsens the problem. The global financial meltdown has pushed the ranks of the world's hungry to a record 1 billion, a grim milestone that poses a threat to peace and security, U.N. food officials said Friday.

WHO declares that swine flu pandemic has begun _ first global flu epidemic in 41 years. The World Health Organization told its member nations it was declaring a swine flu pandemic Thursday ? the first global flu epidemic in 41 years ? as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.

Top flu expert says contagious swine flu could mix with deadly bird flu. Bird flu kills more than 60 percent of its human victims, but doesn't easily pass from person to person. Swine flu can be spread with a sneeze or handshake, but kills only a small fraction of the people it infects.

Bird flu kills more than 60 percent of its human victims, but doesn't easily pass from person to person. Swine flu can be spread with a sneeze or handshake, but kills only a small fraction of the people it infects.

WHO says up to 2 billion people might get swine flu if it moves to a pandemic. Up to 2 billion people could be infected by swine flu if the current outbreak turns into a pandemic lasting two years, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

UN agency fighting swine flu faces political pressures _ should it have beefed up powers?. At the U.N. agency spearheading the fight against swine flu, key decisions are based on more than just health issues ? politics plays a big role, too.

At the U.N. agency spearheading the fight against swine flu, key decisions are based on more than just health issues ? politics plays a big role, too.