Imperial Valley News

Washington, DC - Swine Influenza, Swine Flu National Update - Friday,  July 24 - 11:00AM EST - CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to an expanding outbreak caused by novel H1N1 flu.43,771 Cases in 50 States resulting in 302 deaths.

As of 8:00AM PST time Friday, July 24, 2009 reported 43,771 United States cases 302 United States deaths:

• Alabama - 477
• Alaska - 272
• Arizona - 947 cases - 15 Deaths
• Arkansas - 131 
• California - 3,161 - 52 Deaths 
• Colorado - 171
• Connecticut - 1,713 - 8 Deaths
• Deleware - 381
• Florida - 2,915 - 23 Deaths
• Georgia - 222 - 1 Death 
• Hawaii - 1,424  - 3 Deaths
• Idaho - 166
• Illinois - 3,404 - 17 Deaths 
• Indiana - 291 - 1 Death
• Iowa - 165
• Kansas - 204
• Kentucky - 143
• Louisiana - 232
• Maine - 145
• Maryland - 766 - 4 Deaths 
• Massachusetts - 1,370 - 5 Deaths 
• Michigan - 515 cases - 9 Deaths 
• Minnesota - 670 - 3 Deaths
• Mississippi - 252
• Missouri - 76 cases - 1 Death 
• Montana - 94
• Nebraska - 313 - 1 Death 
• Nevada - 467
• New Hampshire - 247
• New Jersey - 1,414 - 15 Deaths 
• New Mexico - 232
• New York - 2,738 cases - 63 Deaths 
• North Carolina - 483 - 5 Deaths 
• North Dakota - 63
• Ohio - 188 - 1 Death 
• Oklahoma - 189 - 1 Death 
• Oregon - 524 - 5 Deaths 
• Pennsylvania - 1,960 - 8 Deaths 
• Rhode Island - 192 - 2 Deaths
• South Carolina - 244
• South Dakota - 45
• Tennessee - 283 - 1 Death 
• Texas - 5,151 cases - 27 Deaths
• Utah - 988 cases - 16 Deaths
• Vermont - 59
• Virginia - 327 cases - 2 Deaths 
• Washington - 658 cases - 7 Deaths
• Washington, DC - 45
• West Virginia - 243 
• Wisconsin - 6,222 - 6 Deaths
• Wyoming - 111
• American Samoa - 8 
• Guam - 1 
• Puerto Rico - 20
• Virgin Islands - 49 

CDC’s response goals are to:

1. Reduce transmission and illness severity, and
2. Provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency.

CDC is issuing updated interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. This includes updated interim guidance for clinicians on how to identify and care for people who are sick with novel H1N1 flu now that more widespread illness has been detected in the United States. CDC recommends that testing and antiviral treatment be prioritized for those with severe respiratory illness and those at highest risk of complications from seasonal influenza. This includes children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems, and people 65 years and older. In addition, CDC has provided information for the public on what to do if they develop flu-like symptoms.

Background:

Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in March and April, 2009. It’s thought that novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus, but it may also be spread by touching infected objects and then touching your nose or mouth. Novel H1N1 infection has been reported to cause a wide range of flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In addition, many people also have reported nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

The first novel H1N1 patient in the United States was confirmed by laboratory testing at CDC on April 15, 2009. The second patient was confirmed on April 17, 2009. It was quickly determined that the virus was spreading from person-to-person. On April 22, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to better coordinate the public health response. On April 26, 2009, the United States Government declared a public health emergency and has been actively and aggressively implementing the nation’s pandemic response plan.

Since the outbreak was first detected, an increasing number of U.S. states have reported cases of novel H1N1 influenza with associated hospitalizations and deaths. By June 3, 2009, all 50 states in the United States and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were reporting cases of novel H1N1 infection. While nationwide U.S. influenza surveillance systems indicate that overall influenza activity is decreasing in the country at this time, novel H1N1 outbreaks are ongoing in parts of the U.S., in some cases with intense activity.

CDC is continuing to watch the situation carefully, to support the public health response and to gather information about this virus and its characteristics. The Southern Hemisphere is just beginning its influenza season and the experience there may provide valuable clues about what may occur in the Northern Hemisphere this fall and winter.