Geneva  - The number of laboratory confirmed cases of infections of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus rose to 1,893 in 23 countries, the World Health Organization said.

In a posting to its website late Wednesday, the health agency confirmed also a second death in the United States, on top of 29 deaths in Mexico.

Mexico had 942 laboratory-confirmed human cases, including while the US had 642 such infections. Canada reported 165 instances, the WHO said.

Mexico's health ministry said its total number of infections had climbed to 1,112, including the 42 known to have died from the A(H1N1) virus. These were not new deaths but rather reflected confirmed results from laboratory testing.

In Europe, Spain remained hardest hit with 73 cases and Britain had 28 infections. Germany reported nine cases.

New Zealand had five cases and South Korea had two.