In its weekly update, the World Health Organisation today said the global H1N1 flu death toll has reached 3,486, up 281 from a week ago. The UN agency said the Americas region continued to post the highest death toll, at 2,625. Asia-Pacific reported 620 fatalities, while Europe recorded at least 140 deaths. In the Middle East, 61 people succumbed to the virus while in Africa, 40 people died from it. The WHO also said that flu activity was above the seasonal baseline in the United States. Meanwhile, France and Japan, have reported that the flu has reached epidemic levels. The WHO said transmission is also rife in the Central and South America and Asia while in the temperate regions of the southern hemisphere, such as Australia and South Africa, flu activity is declining.