The World Health Organization (WHO) reported today that the swine flu epidemic has crossed oceans - the first cases have been confirmed in the Middle East and Asia (in addition to Israel, Canada, Mexico, the US, Spain and France). All of the reported deaths have occurred in Mexico.
Deaths: 152, all in Mexico, 20 confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected.
Sickened: 1,995 people in Mexico got pneumonia but swine flu not yet confirmed. 64 confirmed in U.S. (details below), including 28 at one New York City school. Elsewhere, six confirmed in Canada; two confirmed in Scotland and seven suspected; 11 confirmed and 43 suspected in New Zealand; two confirmed and 25 suspected in Spain; two confirmed in Israel; one suspected in South Korea; one suspected in France; 13 being tested in Sweden; 12 being tested in Denmark; five awaiting test results in Norway.
U.S. cases: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a total of 64 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of 10 AM CST today. (California 10 cases, Kansas 2 cases, New York City 45 cases, Ohio 1 case, Texas 6 cases.)
Also from the CDC: Today, CDC reports additional cases of confirmed swine influenza and a number of hospitalizations of swine flu patients. Internationally, the situation is more serious too, with additional countries reporting confirmed cases of swine flu. In response to the intensifying outbreak, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4. A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus able to cause “community-level” outbreaks.” The increase in the pandemic alert phase indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased.
The WHO will host a scientific review on the current outbreaks of swine flu tomorrow (April 29) and we will post an update when information from that review is available.
Deaths: 152, all in Mexico, 20 confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected.
Sickened: 1,995 people in Mexico got pneumonia but swine flu not yet confirmed. 64 confirmed in U.S. (details below), including 28 at one New York City school. Elsewhere, six confirmed in Canada; two confirmed in Scotland and seven suspected; 11 confirmed and 43 suspected in New Zealand; two confirmed and 25 suspected in Spain; two confirmed in Israel; one suspected in South Korea; one suspected in France; 13 being tested in Sweden; 12 being tested in Denmark; five awaiting test results in Norway.
U.S. cases: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a total of 64 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of 10 AM CST today. (California 10 cases, Kansas 2 cases, New York City 45 cases, Ohio 1 case, Texas 6 cases.)
Also from the CDC: Today, CDC reports additional cases of confirmed swine influenza and a number of hospitalizations of swine flu patients. Internationally, the situation is more serious too, with additional countries reporting confirmed cases of swine flu. In response to the intensifying outbreak, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4. A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus able to cause “community-level” outbreaks.” The increase in the pandemic alert phase indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased.
The WHO will host a scientific review on the current outbreaks of swine flu tomorrow (April 29) and we will post an update when information from that review is available.
Comments / Posted by Scott W. Yates, MD, MBA, MS, FACP
