Swine flu virtually everywhere in U.S.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the new strain of H1N1 flu is in 48 states, with more than 5,000 confirmed cases and six deaths. The CDC experts believe it likely that more than 100,000 people are infected with the virus. It worries experts because, although it appears mild, most patients are young adults, teens and children. The spread also appears to be continuing beyond the traditional end of flu season in the U.S.
“We wonder whether this strain will continue during the summer and give us more of a summer influenza pattern,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director for science and public health program. “Unfortunately, we don’t know whether we’re going to get a break this summer with this virus.”
What about the rest of the planet? Well, globally, there have been nearly 9000 convirmed cases in roughly 40 countries, killing 74. Most of the deaths have happened in Mexico. The World Health Organization hasn’t rased the world swine flu alert level, though they are poised to declare a full pandemic.
New York City’s first swine flu related death came on Sunday evening, with the assistant principal of a school in Queens. However, complications besides the virus were likely to play a part in his death.
-via MSNBC
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