Friday, June 05, 2009 WASHINGTON: Twenty people in the United States have now been confirmed as having died from the H1N1 “swine flu” virus, the global pandemic which has infected as many as 100,000 people nationwide, health officials said. The U.S. death total rose sharply again yesterday, when New York officials confirmed two new deaths there and Connecticut authorities said one resident of their state also had died. While conservative estimates say there are more than 11,000 confirmed or probably cases of H1N1 virus nationwide, officials caution that the number is more likely closer to 100,000, since many cases of the flu are mild and not being reported. “Laboratory-confirmed cases represent only a fraction of the likely number of cases in the state because many persons with mild symptoms do not seek care from a doctor or hospital but recover at home,” the Connecticut Department of Public Health said in a statement. The H1N1 novel strain of the influenza virus first appeared in Mexico in April and quickly spread to the southwestern U.S. Now, cases have been reported in every virtually state, with the majority clustered in and around New York, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Worldwide, officials blame the virus for 120 deaths and 19,000 people in 64 countries.As the number of deaths and illnesses associated with H1N1 continue to rise, health officials are bracing for a possible surge of deadly flu cases when the fall 2009 flu season arrives. A second wave of the strain could pack a stronger, more deadly and drug-resistant punch than the strain circulating now, health officials said. In a move to prepare for a possible outbreak of stronger flu later this year, President Barack Obama has asked Congress for another $2 billion to pay for preparedness efforts. That money is in addition to the $1.5 billion the President sought earlier when the epidemic first emerged.
Friday, June 05, 2009 WASHINGTON: Twenty people in the United States have now been confirmed as having died from the H1N1 “swine flu” virus, the global pandemic which has infected as many as 100,000 people nationwide, health officials said. The U.S. death total rose sharply again yesterday, when New York officials confirmed two new deaths there and Connecticut authorities said one resident of their state also had died. While conservative estimates say there are more than 11,000 confirmed or probably cases of H1N1 virus nationwide, officials caution that the number is more likely closer to 100,000, since many cases of the flu are mild and not being reported. “Laboratory-confirmed cases represent only a fraction of the likely number of cases in the state because many persons with mild symptoms do not seek care from a doctor or hospital but recover at home,” the Connecticut Department of Public Health said in a statement. The H1N1 novel strain of the influenza virus first appeared in Mexico in April and quickly spread to the southwestern U.S. Now, cases have been reported in every virtually state, with the majority clustered in and around New York, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Worldwide, officials blame the virus for 120 deaths and 19,000 people in 64 countries.As the number of deaths and illnesses associated with H1N1 continue to rise, health officials are bracing for a possible surge of deadly flu cases when the fall 2009 flu season arrives. A second wave of the strain could pack a stronger, more deadly and drug-resistant punch than the strain circulating now, health officials said. In a move to prepare for a possible outbreak of stronger flu later this year, President Barack Obama has asked Congress for another $2 billion to pay for preparedness efforts. That money is in addition to the $1.5 billion the President sought earlier when the epidemic first emerged.
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