Date: 4/30/2009 9:18 PM Key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and government officials: —Deaths: 12 confirmed in Mexico and one confirmed in U.S., a 23-month-old boy from Mexico who died in Texas. Mexico’s Health Secretary no longer releasing “suspected numbers,” saying they are confusing people and may be inflated. The last previous number of people suspected to be sickened with swine flu was 2,498. —Sickened: 248 confirmed in Mexico. Confirmed elsewhere: 131 in U.S.; 34 in Canada; 13 in Spain; eight in Britain; three in Germany and in New Zealand; two in Israel; one each in Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands. —In U.S., CDC confirms 109 cases and state officials confirm 21 more. CDC confirms: 50 in New York; 26 in Texas; 14 in California; 10 in South Carolina; two each in Kansas and Massachusetts; and one each in Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. State officials confirm five in New Jersey; four in Delaware; three additional cases in Arizona; two additional cases in California; two each in Colorado and Virginia; one additional case in Michigan; and one each in Georgia and Minnesota. —Nearly 300 schools close nationwide, with at least 200 in Texas and 62 in Alabama, plus scattered closings in New York, California, South Carolina, Connecticut, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, Ohio, Utah, Washington state, Michigan and Maine. —The World Health Organization increases its tally of confirmed swine flu cases around the world to 257 from 148. —The World Health Organization says it will stop using the term “swine flu” to avoid confusion over the danger posed by pigs. It will instead refer to the virus by its scientific name, “H1N1 influenza A.” —The Obama administration comes out against closing the U.S.-Mexico border. Vice President Joe Biden says it would be “a monumental undertaking” with limited benefit. —White House says aide to Energy Secretary Steven Chu apparently got sick helping arrange President Barack Obama’s recent trip to Mexico but aide did not fly on Air Force One and never posed a risk to the president. —Public health emergency declared in the United States and millions of doses of Tamiflu from federal stockpile being delivered to states. U.S. buying 13 million treatment courses of anti-flu drugs to replenish stockpile, sending 400,000 treatment courses to Mexico. —Texas Gov. Rick Perry issues disaster declaration. —Scattered cancellations or postponements of sporting events across the country, including the suspension of all high school sports competitions in Texas until May 11. —Two leading U.S. makers of respiratory masks ramp up production to meet heavy demand from pharmacies. ___ On the Net: CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
The Associated Press
