# 3053
With confirmed Swine Flu cases now in 5 states, and two Canadian Provinces – plus probable cases in New Zealand, and suspect cases in Spain and Scotland – the expectation is that more cases are bound to turn up.
Thus far, except for cases in Mexico, just about every case we know about has involved mild or moderate illness.
Why Mexico is seeing severe illness (and even deaths) is unknown, and one of the most important questions the CDC is trying to answer.
Since the virus has shown at least the potential to cause severe illness, the HHS is proceeding as if that threat could be carried over to US cases.
In order to release antivirals from the Strategic National Stockpile, and to do aggressive testing, a declaration of a public Health Emergency is needed.
If that seems like overkill for what has been only a `mild’ flu here in this country, well . . .maybe it is.
But influenza viruses are famous for being unstable, and no one is absolutely convinced that the virus will continue to be relatively benign here in the United States.
We’ve too few cases, over too short of a period of time, to even begin to guess how all this turns out. In truth, it may be months before we known how this plays out.
US declares public health emergency for swine flu
Apr 26 12:14 PM US/Eastern
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. is declaring a public health emergency to deal with the emerging new swine flu.
The precautionary step doesn't signal a greater threat to Americans. But it allows the federal and state governments easier access to flu tests and medications.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napilotano says roughly 12 million doses of the drug Tamiflu are being released from a federal stockpile so that states can get it if needed.
Napilotano said at a White House news conference Sunday that the emergency declaration is standard operating procedure—one was recently declare for the inauguration and for flooding.
If you missed it, the video for the White House press conference is now online at MSNBC:
