WASHINGTON - Health officials in the US have said that the outbreak of the Swine Flu virus is milder than previously believed.
According to a report by Fox News, New York City officials said that the swine flu still has not spread beyond a few schools, and in Mexico, the suspected origin of the outbreak, very few relatives of flu victims seem to have caught the virus.
As further evidence that this strain of the H1N1 influenza virus is looking a little less ominous, a US health official says it lacks the genes that made the 1918 pandemic strain so deadly.
Also, a flu expert in New York says there’s no reason to believe the new virus is a more serious strain than seasonal flu.
US President Barrack Obama said that the flu may have run its course “like ordinary flus,” however, the government is preparing for worst-case scenarios, such as the virus’ potential reappearance this fall in more sinister form.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention said that the strain of flu is “a very unusual” four-way combination of human genes and genes from swine viruses found in North America, Asia and Europe.
CDC flu chief Dr. Nancy Cox said that the good news is “we do not see the markers for virulence that were seen in the 1918 virus.”
Still, US authorities are pledging to eventually produce enough swine flu vaccine for everyone, but the shots won’t begin until fall, at the earliest.
Scientists are racing to prepare the key ingredient to make a vaccine against the never-before-seen flu strain - if it’s ultimately needed.
But, it will take several months before the first pilot lots begin required human testing to ensure the vaccine is safe and effective.
“We think 600 million doses is achievable in a six-month time frame” from that fall start, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Craig Vanderwagen said.
“I don’t want anybody to have false expectations. The science is challenging here,” said Vanderwagen. “It’s a question of can we get the science worked on the specifics of this vaccine,” he added.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported 141 cases of swine flu in 19 states of the US.
Some 430 of the nation’s 130,000 public and private schools have closed, while high school, college and professional sporting events have been called off nationwide due to increasing fears. (ANI)
Related News
CDC officials say swine flu pandemic declaration no cause for alarmJune 11th, 2009 CDC: Swine flu pandemic level won't change effortsATLANTA — U.S. health officials say they won't need to change their response now that swine flu has been declared a pandemic.
Mexico swine flu toll rises to 66May 16th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - The toll in Mexico's swine flu outbreak has risen to 66, officials said Saturday. Till date 2,829 people have been infected with the influenza A(H1N1) virus, also called swine flu.
Mexico flu toll rises to 60May 14th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - The toll in Mexico's swine flu outbreak has risen to 60, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos said. A total of 2,386 people have been infected with the influenza A(H1N1) virus, also called swine flu.
Nepal rules out swine flu as mystery virus kills 13May 7th, 2009 KATHMANDU - A medical team that rushed to a remote village in western Nepal after a mystery disease killed 13 people in less than a fortnight Wednesday ruled out an outbreak of swine flu and attributed the deaths to a viral attack. Over 40 more people in Gumla village in Gorkha district, the place from where deposed king Gyanendra's ancestors had hailed, were being treated after they complained of headache, cough, sore throat and fever.
US health official says schools don't need to close for swine flu; watch for sick kidsMay 5th, 2009 US no longer advising schools close for swine fluATLANTA — U.S. health officials are no longer recommending that schools close because of swine flu.
Swine flu spreads to 30 US statesMay 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The swine flu virus spread to 30 US states Sunday with a total of 226 confirmed cases, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Health officials cautioned that the rise in cases had more to do with increased and better reporting of test results than a rapid spread of the virus.
China develops new method to test swine flu in pigsMay 4th, 2009 BEIJING - China has developed a new diagnostic method to test influenza A(H1N1) virus in pigs, the agriculture ministry said. Officials said the new method can deliver test results within five hours.
Swine flu outbreak easing in Mexico, says ministerMay 4th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government has said the swine flu outbreak has peaked in the country and is now in decline, with a confirmed human death toll of 22. Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told reporters Sunday: 'The evolution of the epidemic is now in a phase of decline.'
According to the latest data, 22 people have died of swine flu and 578 people have been infected with the virus.
CDC: New swine flu virus lacks genes that made 1918 pandemic flu strain so deadlyMay 1st, 2009 CDC: New virus lacks genes of 1918 killer fluATLANTA — The swine flu virus that has frightened the world is beginning to look a little less ominous. New York City officials reported Friday that the swine flu still has not spread beyond a few schools.
World Health Organization to hold 'scientific review' of swine flu outbreakApril 29th, 2009 WHO holding expert meeting on swine flu outbreakGENEVA — The World Health Organization was holding an emergency "scientific review" Wednesday of the swine flu outbreak to determine exactly what is known about how the disease spreads, how it affects human health and how it can be treated. Experts will take part via telephone from the United States, Mexico and other countries where people have been infected by swine flu.
What's in a name? Gov't says 'swine flu' misrepresents nature of virus, wants to change nameApril 28th, 2009 Gov't wants to change virus' name from 'swine flu'WASHINGTON — American agriculture officials want to change the name for the virus that's broken out in Mexico and the U.S. from "swine flu" to something else.
Homeland Security boss warns US flu deaths are likely; virus might subside, then returnApril 28th, 2009 Official: Some in US deaths likely from fluWASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is warning that more severe illnesses and some deaths are likely in the United States from the current swine flu outbreak. At a daily briefing on the government's response to the outbreak, Napolitano also said the virus could subside this summer and return in the fall when the normal flu season begins.
WHO chief convenes emergency meeting on deadly swine flu outbreak in Mexico, USApril 25th, 2009 WHO convenes emergency meeting on swine flu crisisGENEVA — The World Health Organization has called an emergency meeting of experts Saturday to consider declaring an international public health emergency over the swine flu outbreak believed to have killed dozens of people in Mexico and sickened at least seven in the U.S. It is the first time the WHO's Director-General Margaret Chan has convened such a crisis panel since the procedure was created almost two years ago, spokesman Gregory Hartl said.
WHO chief arrives at Geneva HQ to oversee handling of deadly Mexico swine flu outbreakApril 25th, 2009 WHO chief to oversee handling of swine flu crisisGENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization arrived in Geneva on Saturday to oversee the agency's handling of the swine flu outbreak that is believed to have killed dozens of people in Mexico. Margaret Chan broke off a visit to Washington to return to WHO's Strategic Health Operation Center in Switzerland, where she was being briefed before an emergency committee meeting later Saturday to consider whether to raise the pandemic alert level or issue travel advisories, spokesman Gregory Hartl said.
WHO chief Chan says swine flu found in Mexico, US has 'pandemic potential'April 25th, 2009 WHO: Mexico swine flu has 'pandemic potential'GENEVA — An outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and the United States is a quickly evolving situation that has "pandemic potential," the head of the World Health Organization said Saturday before an emergency meeting of flu experts. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the North American outbreak of a never-before-seen virus was a very serious situation.
Loading ...