The Inland Echo

By CDC News

The human swine flu outbreak continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Today, CDC reports additional cases of confirmed swine influenza and a number of hospitalizations of swine flu patients. Internationally, the situation is more serious too, with additional countries reporting confirmed cases of swine flu. In response to the intensifying outbreak, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4. A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus able to cause “community-level” outbreaks. The increase in the pandemic alert phase indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased.

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection

As of 11:00 AM ET on April 28, the CDC has confirmed 64 human cases of swine flu infection in the United States:
•    California: 10 cases
•    Kansas: 2 cases
•    New York City: 45 cases
•    Ohio: 1 case
•    Texas: 6 cases

Yesterday, CDC issued a travel warning recommending that people avoid non-essential travel to Mexico. CDC continues to issue interim guidance daily on the website and through health alert network notices. CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is releasing one-quarter of its antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to help states respond to the outbreak. The swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated guidance and new information as it becomes available. The Inland Echo will continue to publish these alerts from the CDC as they become available.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
•    Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
•    Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
•    Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
•    Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
•    If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Related posts:

1. CDC swine flu investigation continues: 11 confirmed cases in U.S.
2. Swine flu continues to spread across U.S.
3. Don’t go to Mexico, CDC says; swine flu continues to spread
4. FDA authorizes emergency use of influenza medicines, diagnostic test in response to swine flu outbreak in humans
5. Raw alfalfa sprouts linked to salmonella contamination