WASHINGTON – The United States now has 2,600 cases of the new H1N1 influenza across 43 states and Washington DC, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported yesterday.
The outbreak of swine flu has been mostly mild in the US, with three deaths, the centre said in a statement. On Sunday, it reported 2,532 cases. Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed 4,694 infections in 30 countries with 53 deaths, all but four in Mexico.
While it is widespread across the US, the WHO said the new H1N1 virus shows no signs of sustained person-to-person spread outside of North America.
“There are about 3,300 probable and confirmed cases in 46 states and the District of Columbia,” the centre’s Dr Anne Schuchat told a news briefing.
She said 94 patients with confirmed disease had needed hospital care, and the latest new case became sick on May 5th. More than 60 per cent of cases are among children under 18.
“These actual numbers really need to be interpreted with caution,” Dr Schuchat said. She said they are likely the tip of the iceberg and said many states would report new weekend data and the toll would jump. Seasonal flu is still circulating, she added, and only 40 per cent of people with influenza-positive tests had the new H1N1 strain. “I think there a perception out there that we are winding down, that we are in a lull,” Dr Schuchat said. “We know that this virus is present in our communities and it is actively circulating and we don’t know what will happen come the fall.”
Meanwhile, millions of Mexican children, many them of them wearing surgical masks and clutching hand sanitisers, went back to classes yesterday after a two-week shutdown of schools.
Schools throughout Mexico were scrubbed from floor to ceiling last week and the 20 million students were told to follow strict hygiene rules. “If everyone respects them, we’re going to have a safe and healthy return ,” said education minister Alonso Lujambio. – (Reuters)