Anne Schuchat, M.D., Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Nancy Cox, Ph.D., Chief, Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases answered questions from the press at 1:15 p.m. today. We listened in on the call, and here are the latest updates.
• There are now 141 confirmed cases of swine flu in 19 states, eight more states since yesterday. The median age is 17.
• More communities are being affected and more cases are expected in additional states.
• The government has shipped one quarter of Strategic National Stockpile of antiviral medications.
• The Department of Health and Human Services has decided to purchase 13 million more courses of antiviral medications.
• 400,000 courses of antiviral medications were shipped to Mexico to help the situation there.
• There is now genetic material available from six countries. So far the viruses are 99 to 100 percent identical, which would make it easier to produce a vaccine.
• The genetic sequence has been made available on public databases for researchers around the world.
• Aggressive early steps to produce vaccine are being taken.
• The infection rate appears similar to seasonal flu virus.
—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor
Keep up to date with our swine-flu coverage and recommendations.
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