Countries consider ways to cease spread of swine flu as numbers rise

The number of confirmed cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 rose today to 73, 40 of which have been confirmed in the United States. Meanwhile, European health officials were cautioning Europeans to carefully weigh travel decisions to Mexico and the United States, and CDC officials said they plan to issue a travel advisory about nonessential travel to Mexico.

Mexico has reported 18 deaths caused by swine influenza A/H1N1, but they suspect dozens more deaths may have been caused by the illness, and health officials believe more than 1,600 cases of this type of influenza have been reported there.

In the United States, health officials confirmed 40 cases of swine influenza A/H1N1, spread out over New York, California, Texas, Kansas and Ohio. CDC officials said that all cases have been mild, with only one requiring brief hospitalization. New York health officials said there are 28 confirmed cases - many of which are among students who traveled to Mexico over spring break.

CDC investigators said all viruses in the United States have the same genetic pattern based on preliminary testing. The virus is being described as a new subtype of A/H1N1 not previously detected in swine or humans, and it is believed to be passed from human to human.

In a press conference, Richard Besser, MD, said the United States has released 11 million courses of antiviral drugs that are en route to affected states including New York, Califorinia, Texas and other states around the country. He said the Obama administration declared a "public health emergency" to facilitate quick distribution of antivirals and other resources as they become needed.

Meanwhile, Andorra Vassiliou, the European Union’s health commissioner, recommended against travel to North America, and several other countries are reportedly looking at plans to restrict the virus from entering their borders. Besser said nonessential travel to Mexico should be avoided out of an "abundance of caution."

WHO officials said they are sending experts to Mexico to work with health authorities. WHO and its partners are actively investigating reports of suspect cases in other member states as they occur, and are supporting field epidemiology activities, laboratory diagnosis and clinical management.

For more information, visit the CDC's website.