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CDC: Number of new cases of influenza A (H1N1) decreasing
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New cases of influenza A (H1N1) have decreased for the fourth week in a row, according to CDC data released today.
The CDC data showed that "widespread illness" from influenza A (H1N1) is now being reported in 32 states, the fewest since the beginning of the pandemic's fall wave. Furthermore, hospitalizations related to influenza A (H1N1) have decreased for the third week in a row. Some public health officials are saying these data may indicate that the fall wave of influenza A (H1N1) has peaked.
CDC officials also announced that an estimated 70 million doses of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine are now available and the supply is expected to increase even more in the next few weeks.
Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, director of the CDC, said the decrease in the number of cases, along with the increase in the number of available vaccines, now presents a "window of opportunity" to further protect Americans from influenza A (H1N1).
"We are far from out of the woods, but we have an opportunity to get more people protected in case there is another surge or wave [of cases] in future months," Frieden said at a press conference today.