The World Health Organization (WHO) said many people in the Pacific region are placed at high risk from influenza A/H1N1 complications, Radio New Zealand International reported on Thursday.

This warning came as recent U.S. data showed that apart from underlying health problems, obesity might increase the risk of influenza A/H1N1 complications and death.

A World Health Organization representative in the South Pacific, Jacob Kool, said Pacific people are among the most vulnerable.

"People in the Pacific have a lot of risk factors, obesity and heart disease, but also diabetes and heart disease, they have some of the highest rates in the world here. There's also a lot of asthma," Radio New Zealand International quoted Kool as saying. "In addition, we've seen with other pandemics that influenza often leads to a lot of severe illnesses in the Pacific," Kool added.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2009)