US swine flu cases going parabolic

From CDC site:
The fact that novel H1N1 activity can now be monitored through seasonal surveillance systems is an indication that there are higher levels of influenza-like illness in the United States than is normal for this time of year. About half of all influenza viruses being detected are novel H1N1 viruses.

Original map can be viewed large here

4,298 Confirmed and Probable Cases in 47 States
...or 946 more cases in 24 hours.

There were the math models for pandemic spread of flu online when this virus first became public. It showed a slow, but steadily increasing number of infection which got seriously heavy on day 50 and peaked at day 85. By day 120 it's headed back to - but not quite to yet - normal. It is a slow-moving long term event.

At present we are about at day 17 in the whole cycle...

First US swine flu death (UPDATE)

A 23 month old baby in Texas has died from swine flu. This is the first US, non-Mexican death. The Center for Disease Control Acting Director Dr. Besser extended his sympathies to the family.

Swine flu has been confirmed in Germany and Austria and London overnight.

Will it stay mild? Is this the first wave? Only God knows.

UPDATE: CHILD WHO DIED OF SWINE FLU IN TEXAS WAS MEXICAN WHO TRAVELED TO US FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT -HOUSTON HEALTH OFFICIAL

Swine flu very latest

LA Health Dept says new strain of swine flu is likely already affecting residents in LACounty, although no cases confirmed...

Crisis units have been activated in Brasil, France, Colombia, Chile and Nicaragua to monitor the swine flu outbreaks in the US and Mexico...

Possible Swine Flu Outbreak At NYC Prep School, New York City health officials say that about 75 students at a Queens high school have fallen ill with flu-like symptoms and testing is under way to rule out the strain of swine flu that has killed dozens in Mexico...

Mexico City closes museums, libraries, theaters

Mexico City closes museums to stop flu outbreak

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's federal government has closed museums, libraries, and state-run theaters as well as schools in its overcrowded capital to stop a swine flu outbreak authorities say may have killed as many as 60 people.

The government already shut down schools across Mexico City Friday in hopes of containing the outbreak that has sickened more than 900 people. World health officials worry a global flu epidemic could spread from the city of 20 million.

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Mexican officials have pushed back the deadline for filing national taxes for one week.

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Also, CA has opened its joint operations center to combat the flu in California

Swine flu outbreak: update/latest. CDC to hold presser

Authorities rush to tackle killer multi-strain swine flu in Mexico, US

MEXICAN and US officials have taken emergency measures to contain outbreaks of a new multi-strain swine flu blamed for scores of deaths in Mexico and seven infections in the United States. Mexican authorities confirmed the swine flu outbreak ...

The World Health Organisation in Geneva said 60 people have died from suspected swine flu in Mexico, and Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said officials are probing 45 deaths and 943 possible infections.

The US cases included five in California and two in Texas, in three clusters, WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said. [ED. NOTE: with another potential cluster in Ottawa]

The WHO, which has identified swine influenza as a potential source of a human flu pandemic, activated its global epidemic operations centre.
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CDC to hold press conference today at 2:30pm.