Swine Flu...CDC and WHO

Swine flu leads to more schools closures
Reported by: WPTV staff
Contributor: Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) -- Concerns about a deadly swine flu have now led to several school closures across the country, including an entire school district in south Texas.

There have been a total of 20 confirmed cases in the U.S.: in New York, California, Kansas, Texas and Ohio. Health officials in Michigan are looking into one suspected case.

All American victims have recovered or are recovering. Still, the U.S. government has declared a public health emergency.

In New York, St. Francis Preparatory is closed for several days after reports of eight confirmed cases among students and possibly more. Testing continues on dozens of other students.

An elementary school in Ohio is closed for the week after a student was found with the virus after a family trip to Mexico. Authorities say he has a mild case and is recovering at home.

A school in South Carolina is also closed, after some students returned from Mexico with flu-like symptoms. There have been no confirmed cases in the state.

The outbreak has some people on edge. The mother of a St. Francis student admits she might be driving her son crazy "taking his temperature in the middle of the night."

From the CDC...

Swine Influenza (Flu)
Swine Flu website last updated Monday, April 27, 2009 10:15 AM ET

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
(As of April 26, 2009 9:00 AM ET)
California 7 cases
Kansas 2 cases
New York City 8 cases
Ohio 1 case
Texas 2 cases
TOTAL COUNT 20 cases
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
See: World Health Organization

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. The current U.S. case count is provided below.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with swine influenza viruses.

CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This includes deploying staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support. CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate this investigation.

Laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir and has issued interim guidance for the use of these drugs to treat and prevent infection with swine influenza viruses. CDC also has prepared interim guidance on how to care for people who are sick and interim guidance on the use of face masks in a community setting where spread of this swine flu virus has been detected. This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide new information as it becomes available.