Vice president Joe Biden said today he would tell his family members not to use subways in the U.S. and hinted that schools should/would be closed as the swine flu outbreak spreads to most US states.
As of 17:00 GMT, 30 April 2009, 11 countries have officially reported 257 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.
As of 10:30 AM April 30, 2009, here is a full list of US states with cases of H1N1 Swine Flu infection:
Arizona 1
California 14
Indiana 1
Kansas 2
Massachusetts 2
Michigan 1
Nevada 1
New York 50
Ohio 1
South Carolina 10
Texas 26
Dr. Margaret Chan, head of the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the agency’s pandemic alert level to phase 5,one notch below a full-scale influenza pandemic, signaling that it’s time for all countries to get ready for a full-scale pandemic.
Here is an excerpt from WHO’s statement:
Based on assessment of all available information, and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5.
Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.
The first death from Swine Flu H1N1 has been confirmed to be a direct result of Swine Flu H1N1 in Houston Texas. The swine flu virus has spread to 10 states.
According to the CDC/AP Service: Deaths: 160 Swine Flu Infection: 26 confirmed in Mexico, with up to 6,000 people suspected of being infected with H1N1 Swine Flu; 68 confirmed in U.S.; 13 confirmed in Canada; two confirmed in Scotland; 14 confirmed in New Zealand; two confirmed in Spain; and two confirmed in Israel. Confirmed U.S. cases, by state: 45 in New York, 13 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one each in Indiana and Ohio, according to CDC and states. Keep in mind this information is based on public reports – the only true numbers are not available to the general public.
Arizona, Nevada, Massachusetts and Michigan now have confirmed swine-flu cases, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says. Number of confirmed U.S. cases: 91 and rising.
Mexico has raised the number of suspected deaths from swine flu virus to 159, while the number of swine flu cases in the United States has risen to at least 65.
The LA Times: local coroner’s office has concluded that two flu-related deaths in the Los Angeles area do not appear to be cases to swine flu. California, which borders Mexico, had at least 11 confirmed cases as of Tuesday of H1N1 swine flu and has declared a state of emergency to address the outbreak.
At this time, swine flu cases have been confirmed on every continent.
The CDC has released its number for Swine Flu H1N1 infection in the continental United States, and the number remain basically the same as they were rumored to be at the beginning of the week. Despite the CDC decrying of the Google Swine Flu H1N1 Map, that map kept fairly accurate number for H1N1 Swine Flu infections, and is updated in real time, unlike the CDC numbers.
The current count in the U.S. is up to at least 20 cases.
New York: 10 cases
California: 7 cases
Texas Kansas: 2 cases
Ohio: 1 case
At this time, swine flu cases have been confirmed in New Zealand, Israel, Spain, Scotland, and Canada. Suspected cases have been reported in several other countries, including every continent.
A persistent rumor, fueled by Twitter and fear-mongering, is that flu treatments Tamiflu and Ralenza ( also known as Oseltamivir and Zanamivir) are not effective against the newest strain of Swine Flu H1N1. However, Tamiflu and Ralenza (Oseltamivir and Zanamivir) are considered to be effective Swine Flu H1N1 treatments.
You can still buy some at our store, http://stoph1n1.com/stop-h1n1-shop/, as far as I know, but I don’t know how long that supply will last. 3M, the most popular maker of N95 Swine Flu Masks is now saying they are sold out of the N95 Swine Flu masks, and they have to ramp up production to meet the insane demand for the Swine Flu prevention masks.
3M Co. said it is racing to meet demand for it N95 respiratory masks amid surging demand brought on by the outbreak of swine flu.
Spokeswoman Jacqueline Berry said the masks are now on back order — meaning the Minnesota-based company doesn’t have enough of them on hand to ship to all the customers who want them. “We’ve significantly increased production and we are working hard to meet the demand,” she said.
