May 13, 2009
Global novel H1N1 case count reaches 5,728
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 5,728 confirmed cases of novel H1N1 influenza (swine flu) in 33 countries as of early today. The number included yesterday's US total of 3,009 cases with 3 deaths, 2,059 cases and 56 deaths in Mexico, and 358 cases with 1 death in Canada. One death also occurred among 8 cases in Costa Rica. Other countries with more than 10 cases were Spain, 98, the United Kingdom, 68, Panama, 29, France, 13, and Germany, 12.
[WHO update 27]
US novel H1N1 cases climb to 3,352
The tally of confirmed novel H1N1 flu cases in the United States rose to 3,352 in 45 states today, compared with 3,009 yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported. The death toll remained at 3. Illinois continued to have the most cases, wth 592, followed by Wisconsin with 496. Texas had 293 cases, California 221, and New York 211.
[Current CDC numbers]
Canada mulls what to do with infected pig herd
Canadian officials are weighing an Alberta hog farmer's request to cull 2,200 pigs that were exposed to the novel H1N1 influenza virus, Canwest News Service reported today. The farmer believes the swine flu stigma will bar him from selling the herd, and he is requesting $500,000 in compensation. However, officials from Canada's food safety agency have said culling the entire herd may not be warranted and that they would meet with the farmer again to discuss a solution.
[May 13 Canwest News Service story]
Some H1N1 patients have no fever
Many people who have novel H1N1 influenza don't experience fever, which could make the illness difficult to identify, infectious disease expert Richard P. Wenzel of Virginia Commonwealth University told the New York Times yesterday. During recent consultations at two Mexican hospitals, he found about a third of the patients screened had no fever, but nearly all had a cough and malaise. About 12% had diarrhea, and he said passage of the virus in stools would present infection control problems.
[May 12 New York Times story]
China, Hong Kong find new virus in two more travelers
Mainland China and Hong Kong today both reported their second novel H1N1 influenza cases, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) reported. In the mainland case, a 19-year-old student got sick on a train back to his home in Shandong province after traveling to Canada. The Hong Kong case is in a 24-year-old man who was isolated in a city hospital after traveling to the United States.
[May 13 DPA story]
