U.S. swine flu cases may have hit 1 million

Health officials estimate that as many as 1 million Americans now have the new swine flu. Lyn Finelli, a flu surveillance official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, voiced the estimate at a vaccine advisory meeting Thursday in Atlanta.

The estimate is based on mathematical modeling. Nearly 28,000 U.S. cases have been reported to the CDC, accounting for roughly half the world's cases. The U.S. count includes 3,065 hospitalizations and 127 deaths.

Swine Flu Pandemic Is Closer, Says WHO

The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic

WHO chief Dr. Margaret Chan made the announcement Thursday after the U.N. agency held an emergency meeting with flu experts.

Chan said she was moving the world to phase 6 — the agency's highest alert level — which means a pandemic, or global epidemic, is under way.


"The world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century," Chan told reporters. "The (swine flu) virus is now unstoppable."

QUICK FACTS

Totals WorldWide

51,702 cases

229 deaths

97 Countries

2009 "Swine Flu" Update

China quarantines dozens of US students

Dozens of American high school students were quarantined in central China after some were diagnosed with swine flu, the government said Wednesday.

In New Zealand, the Roman Catholic Church placed restrictions on communion to stop the spread of the virus

A group of 42 American high school students and teachers was quarantined last Thursday in Yichang city in central Hubei province, China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement

Philippines Reports New H1N1 Outbreak

The Philippines confirmed a flu outbreak in 20 people in a rural northern village Monday as the country's H1N1 infection tally neared 200, while Thailand reported its largest single-day jump in infections.

"You can't stop the spread of this virus anymore," Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. "The mitigation efforts are aimed at slowing it down, then working to help villagers address the infections."

Mr. Duque said 46 new cases were reported Monday, bringing the number of infections in the country to 193. All of the cases are mild and 71 have fully recovered, he said.

swine flu news

1. Navy reports 21 swine flu cases on USS Iwo Jima
2. US official in France diagnosed with swine flu
3. The number of U.S. citizens infected with swine flu at the American University in Cairo rose to seven, after five more cases were diagnosed as positive Tuesday, the Egyptian health minister said.
4. 2 Greek students catch swine flu in UK
5. 4 more swine flu cases in Germany
6. UK reports its first swine flu death
7. Chile reports 1st swine flu death in South America
8. Venezuela has quarantined the passengers and crew of a visiting cruise ship for 10 days after three crew members tested positive for swine flu.
9. Argentine health authorities on Tuesday confirmed three more swine flu deaths, bringing the nation's total to four as it enters the South American winter flu season.
10. SINGAPORE has confirmed seven more cases of H1N1, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 34, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Sunday.
11. The number of swine flu cases in Thailand has almost quadrupled since Wednesday to 106. Schools have been ordered closed in Bangkok and entertainment venues have been asked to close in Pattaya and Phuket.
12. Guatemala urges 2 swine flu-hit towns to shut down
13. 3 cruise ship crew catch swine flu off Australia
14. Puerto Rico reports 1st swine flu case
15. Canada says man with swine flu dies
16. Kuwait: 18 US soldiers with swine flu bolt country
17. South Korea says American has swine flu
18. Swine flu cases in India :So far, samples of 318 people have been tested, of which 30 have tested positive for influenza A (H1N1)

What is swine flu?

Human swine influenza A (H1N1), commonly known as swine flu, is a new type of human influenza virus which causes respiratory disease.
In general, swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs caused by a type A influenza virus.
Viruses that cause swine flu do not normally infect humans, although rare human infections have occurred.
The swine flu virus we are now concerned with originally came from pigs but combined with other types of viruses to make a new virus that can now be transmitted from person to person.

How is swine flu spread?

Human swine influenza is thought to be spread when infected airborne droplets,produced by coughing or sneezing by someone with the infection, come into contactwith a mucous membrane (lining of the nose and mouth).
Infection may also be spread by contact with hands, tissues and other articles soiled by infected nose and throat discharges.

Confirmed cases of H1N1 virus approach 900

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard,seasonal flu.
These include fever and cough, sore throat, fatigue and respiratory illness.
Those symptoms include fever over 100º F, cough, sore throat, body aches and headache.
In addition, fatigue, lack of appetite, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can occur.
Anyone with fever and severe respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing should contact their health care provider.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
* Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting

How is it diagnosed?

The recommended test for swine flu is laboratory examination of mucus from the back of the nose.

working on H1N1 virus vaccine

What is the incubation period?

The time between becoming infected and developing symptoms is 1 – 7 days.

Can it be passed to other people?

Based on current knowledge, an infected person can spread the infection to others from one day before the onset of symptoms up to 7 days after the onset of symptoms.

What should I do if I get sick?

Although typical flu symptoms usually do not require medical attention, healthy adults who are not at risk for complications of flu should at least contact their doctor if they have unexplained fever and trouble breathing or if their symptoms are getting worse.
If people are at risk for severe influenza , they should at least contact their doctor when they develop symptoms of the flu, including fever and either a cough or sore throat.

How long can the virus live on a countertop or other surface?

The virus can live on hard surfaces for at least several hours and possibly more than a day.
For that reason, it is important that you wash your hands after coughing or sneezing to avoid passing on the virus.

Can I get swine flu from eating pork, ham, etc.?

No, you cannot get swine flu in that way.
Swine flu is passed from person to person through coughing or sneezing, or by touching a surface that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

How do people get swine flu?

You can become infected by the swine flu virus when someone infected with swine flu coughs or sneezes droplets near you and you take in the virus through your mouth, nose or eyes.
You can also get the virus by touching a surface such as a countertop or doorknob that has become contaminated and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

For more information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
MedlinePlus
National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
KidsHealth
Washington State Dept. of Health
WHO