Facts and figures on the increasing swine flu cases both in the US and Mexico

Pandemic swine influenza is one of the biggest public health threats facing most of the affected countries in the world today. Pandemics usually start out as a few isolated incidents, but then start to spread like a wildfire. Therefore, it is best to nip it in the bud resort to all means possible to contain its spread.

Although, it looks like the swine flu is in its declining phase in all probability, the World Health Organization has cautioned that the current swine flu outbreak could yet gain momentum, despite its positive show presently, because the number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus continue to climb.

Only about 10 days old, the Mexican authorities believe the virus’s most active period in Mexico was between the 23rd and 28th of April, and is now seeing a dip in fresh cases here. However, the latest update suggests that to date there have been 568 cases and 22 fatalities that can be directly linked to swine flu.

Throughout the world there are 898 confirmed cases. The H1N1 virus has affected 18 countries to date. The United States has reported 279 confirmed cases in 36 states. The U.S. cases also include one death, that of a Mexican toddler who was visiting relatives in the United States.

According to WHO, Canada has 70 confirmed cases; the United Kingdom has 15; Spain has 13; Germany has 6; New Zealand has 4; Israel has 3; France has 2; and Austria, China, South Korea, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Ireland each have one.

In the United States, presently New York has the most confirmed cases with 73, Texas has 41 with one death; California 30; Arizona 18; Delaware 10; Massachusetts, Colorado, Illinois and New Jersey each have seven; Florida, Indiana, Oregon, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin each have three; Connecticut, Kansas and Michigan each have two; south Carolina, Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Utah each have one.

Health officials agree that there is no time for complacency as they need to stay ahead of this crisis. Cases in both the US and Mexico have been on the upswing. Moreover, health officials are particularly worried about as the fall season approaches because maximum flu infections are said to occur in this season.

The U.S. CDC has reported that the number of people with flu in the U.S. is increasing when the normal flu season would be ending. At least 533 schools in 24 states have already been closed as a precautionary measure, shutting out about 330,000 students, according to the U.S. Department of Education. However, concerned officials feel that these children are now congregating to the malls that again could lead to an increase in infections due to human contact.

Mexico’s outbreak probably peaked last week and patients are responding well to antiviral treatments, Health Minister Jose Cordova said yesterday. The virus has been confirmed in 23 of Mexico’s 31 states as well as in the capital district.

After the terrible let down, Mexico is now trying to return to normalcy as quickly as possible. However it was too soon to tally the economic cost of this infection as long as the battle is won on a positive note.

In fact, the US is hastening production of its annual flu shots based on strains identified before the H1N1 outbreak. Batches of seed virus are being developed for potential vaccine production, according to the WHO.

The WHO has said that it is bracing up for the possibility of a vengeful return of the disease as the peak flu season is round the corner in most countries now affected with swine flu.