Swine flu death toll reaches 3,917: WHO

Some 3,917 people have died from swine flu infections since the A(H1N1) virus was uncovered in April, the World Health Organization said Friday, while a British prison probed a "swine flu gel intoxication."

This marks a jump of 431 deaths compared to a week ago when 3,486 deaths were recorded, said the U.N. health agency in its weekly data on the pandemic published on its website.

The Americas region continued to post the highest number of fatal cases, at 2,948.

The Asia-Pacific region reported 702 deaths, while Europe recorded at least 154 fatalities.

In the Middle East, 72 people have succumbed to the virus while in Africa, 41 deaths have been recorded.

The northern hemisphere, which will soon enter the flu-prone winter season, is recording an overall increase in flu cases, while in the southern hemisphere the spread of flu has eased.

Drunk on anti-bacterial gel

Meanwhile, an investigation was under way in a British jail after an inmate appeared to have got drunk on anti-bacterial gel used to combat the spread of swine flu, a prison spokesman said Friday.

The hand gel, which contains alcohol, was made available to prisoners at The Verne prison in Dorset, southeast England, on the same day the incident took place.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "On 21 September, a prisoner... showed signs of intoxication, the cause of which is being investigated."

Reports said prisoners mixed the gel with a drink to consume it.

Andy Fear, from the Prison Officers Association at the prison, said staff had been concerned about the use of the gel.

"When you get something called alcohol gel you can see what is going to happen," he told the BBC.

"We had concerns when we heard these were being given to inmates."

He added: "We don't want drunk prisoners running around the prison."

Britain is the hardest-hit country in Europe by the virus.

We don't want drunk prisoners running around the prison

A Prison Service spokesman