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The most significant thing that has happened over the last 24 hours or so is that the CDC has confirmed a handful of Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu cases in new locations. Previously, cases were only identified in Texas and California. Now, there are cases in Ohio (1 case), New York (8 cases), and Kansas (2 cases). In at least some cases, there is a Mexico connection. I think it is reasonable to assume that new cases will start showing up in other locations over the next day or two.
WHO has some updated information on the situation in Mexico:
...as of 26 April, the Government of Mexico has reported 18 laboratory confirmed cases of swine influenza A/H1N1. Investigation is continuing to clarify the spread and severity of the disease in Mexico. Suspect clinical cases have been reported in 19 of the country's 32 states.
This is not a lot of new information from 24 hours earlier. Reuters has reported that a teacher visiting Mexico from New Zealand has returned with a flu. Of course, a zillion people have the flu every day, so this may not mean anything....
At the moment no travel or trade restrictions are being recommended by WHO.
One question I have that I have not seen any information on is this: We see cases showing up in the US with an apparent Mexico connection, suggesting that this flu may have an origin in Mexico. What about Central America and other points south? Is there any movement in that direction? (And could that explain the family of people I know of who returned form Panama with the "flu" a few weeks ago???) I wonder how good reporting is in countries south of Mexico ...
The CDC web site is here.
The WHO web site is here.
Medicine & Health
Comments
Am I the only one who giggles every time I hear "swine flu" because of the 80's spoof 'Student Bodies' where swine flu, which is caused by sexual deprivation...
Sometimes Melbert pee red.
Posted by: Jason | April 27, 2009 9:11 AM
Greg,
First, thanks for doing these updates.
A couple questions, though.
If this flu had showed up back in Nov. or Dec. would the numbers be higher by now? Are we lucky for the timing?
Also, there of course has been much talk about the 1918 epidemic. But isn't that a little overblown in that today's medicines and preventive practices are so much more advanced?
Thanks again.
Posted by: mk | April 27, 2009 9:27 AM
As with everyting in life it is best to be prepared. Here is a link to the CDC for information on the Swine Flu. http://pfx.me/NR
Posted by: Mira's Desk | April 27, 2009 12:56 PM
Like mk, I've been following your updates, too. Thanks for posting them.
Posted by: Lynn | April 27, 2009 1:39 PM
Adding my thanks to the chorus - this is super useful for me as my job involves needing to know about this sort of thing... but our resources are stupidly restricted - heck, I'd get taken to task pretty quickly for using sites like this during work hours. Oh, how I hate pitting my ethics against the need to earn a penny.
Posted by: CJ | April 27, 2009 1:48 PM
Well according to huffpo it is easy to protect yourself, just a try a good deep enema:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-evans/swine-flu-protect-yoursel_b_191550.html
Posted by: sailor | April 27, 2009 9:09 PM