CDC: Swine flu "is not going away"

By Sheilah Downey

More than two months into the swine flu pandemic, the United States is still experiencing a steady increase in the number of cases, announced Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control, who added the "reported cases are really just the tip of the iceberg."
   
In a CDC-transcript of today's news conference, Schuchat said "The number of new cases that were reported to us this past week was actually the largest number we've had reported since the beginning of the outbreak." Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, also said, "The key point is that this new infectious disease is not going away."

More than 6,000 cases of the H1N1 virus were reported in this past week, said Schuchat, with 12 states reporting widespread flu activity. She said it's "very unusual" to see so much widespread activity in a flu virus when the seasonal flu season has yet to set in.

Nationwide, lab-defined cases have reached the 27,717 mark, including more than 3,000 hospitalizations and 127 deaths.

The World Health Organization is reporting almost 60,000 cases of the swine flu in more than 100 countries with 263 deaths.

In the U.S., two regions that are reporting higher than expected cases of the flu are New England and the New Jersey, New York areas, said Schuchat.

"Usually this time of year, things would be going down instead of up," said Schuchat.

The highest rates of illness reported are in people under 25 years, with nearly 80 percent of people hospitalized under the age of 50.

With flu season in full swing in the Southern Hemisphere, countries are beginning to report an onslaught of new cases. Australia, Argentina and Chile are reporting significant upswings in cases. Schuchat said the CDC is getting reports that some medical facilities in those countries are having a difficult time coping with the number of patients seeking medical attention.