H1N1 Swine Flu Latest Death Toll Rises To 91 US Soldiers Infected With H1N1 US Will Spend 1 Billion on H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine

The H1N1 Swine Flu death toll rose to 91 deaths and 11,168 cases of infection, though the WHO data shows 86 deaths and 12022 cases. In brighter news, the US Governemtn has now decided it will indeed pay for the development of a Swine Flu H1N1 vaccine. Experts are concerned about a second wave of the H1N1 Swine flu virus thta may return to the hardest hit part of the world, North America, in the Fall.

Eighteen U.S. soldiers have been confirmed as the first cases in Kuwait with H1N1 flu, the undersecretary of the ministry of health said on Sunday.

“They are 18 U.S. soldiers that were confirmed with the virus upon their arrival from their country to the military base (in Kuwait),” Ibrahim al-Abdulhadi told Reuters.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Friday the U.S. will spend $1 billion to start the process of making an H1N1 influenza vaccine.

The money, which comes from funds already set aside for pandemic influenza, will fund new and existing contracts with influenza vaccine makers such as Sanofi Aventis SA, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis.

·The number of deaths caused by A/H1N1 virus has risen to 91, health officials said.
·More than 11,168 people in 44 countries and regions have reportedly contracted the virus.

New York Educator H1N1 Swine Flu Death Is Fourth US H1N1 Swine Flu Death

A principal of a New York city school died of what are reported to be ‘complications of the H1N1 swine flu’ today, Sunday May 17 2009. This marks the 4th h1N1 Swine Flu related death in the US since the explosion of Swine Flu. or H1N1 virus last month. The h1N1 virus is now on the rise in New York city, and school closures are adding to the fire of speculation about the exact spread of H1N1 Swine flu in the largest US cities.

“We are now seeing a rising tide of flu in many parts of New York City,” said New York City Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden earlier Sunday.

“With the virus spreading widely, closing these and other individual schools will make little difference in transmission throughout New York City, but we hope will help slow transmission within the individual school communities.”

An New York middle school assistant principal who was hospitalized with the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, died Sunday apparently from flu complications, a hospital spokesman said.

H1N1 Swine Flu Control CDC Releases New Guidelines For Preventing H1N1 Swine Flu

H1N1 Swine Flu Control CDC Releases New Guidelines For Preventing H1N1 Swine Flu and again they are recommending the Social Distancing method for preventing flu infection, especially h1n1 swine flu, combined with proper hygiene in the form of handwashing.
Read the new
Interim CDC Guidance for Public Gatherings in Response to Human Infections with Novel Influenza A (H1N1)

In crowded settings, social distancing (that is, measures that increase the physical space between people and reduce their frequency of close contact) is difficult to maintain. Moreover, at public gathering events that are celebratory in nature (such as weddings, graduation ceremonies), participants frequently have social personal contact (like handshaking and hugging). As a result, there may be increased risk for spread of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus among attendees of such events and subsequent spread of illness in the community or in communities to where attendees return. The recommendations below are intended to reduce the spread of influenza infection in communities.