# 3054
I’ve just gotten off the conference line with the CDC, and once again Anne Schuchat, M.D., Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program, fielded a great many questions from the press.
Although the transcript, and audio for this conference will likely be posted later today, or tomorrow, I can relay at least some of the highlights.
Yesterday’s CDC conference is now available for you to listen to HERE.
Dr. Schuchat began with a brief opening statement where she stressed that the CDC was approaching this outbreak aggressively, and is concerned.
She confirmed 20 cases in 5 states, but expects those numbers to change.
One of the 20 confirmed cases is hospitalized, but most are reporting only mild symptoms.
That too, she fears, could change.
She warns we should expect a broader spectrum of disease, with significant variance in symptoms. While we have not seen any fatalities here in the US, there is an expectation that we certainly could going forward.
Outbreaks are unpredictable, and while the CDC will attempt to make forecasts, they won’t always be correct.
Recommendations will be `interim’, and subject to change as they find more cases and learn more about the virus.
There may be differences in recommendations between localities, and people need to pay attention to their local health authorities.
Dr. Schuchat then entertained questions from the press. She wasn’t able to answer all of them, of course. The investigation into the cases here in the U.S. and in Mexico are still underway, and many things simply aren’t known.
What she was able to tell us is that the CDC now has 12 samples from Mexico, and that there are teams of CDC scientists in Mexico – working both with the WHO (World Health Organization) and as part of a Trilateral Response Team (Mexico-US-Canada) – looking for answers.
The virus in Mexico `looks like’ the one here in the US, but additional testing is ongoing.
When asked why the disease was different in Mexico, Dr. Schuchat said it was premature to assume that it is – that there are too few cases here in the US to make that call.
It was asked whether previous exposure to other H1N1 viruses might provide some level of immunity?
The answer there is unknown, however cross reaction tests with the current seasonal flu shot were `pessimistic’, and the current shot is not thought to convey much, if any, immunity.
Dr. Schuchat stated that there is evidence of sustained chains of transmission, with Human-to-Human-to-Human infection.
Many questions were asked about vaccine production, and right now, there are more questions than answers. Any vaccine is months away, and that will depend – in part – on how well the virus grows in the lab.
Experts are trying to decide how to incorporate emergency vaccine production into the schedule this late into the seasonal flu vaccine production run. No decision has been made on how, or even if, a swine flu vaccine will be manufactured.
The symptoms of this virus, so far, are non-specific. They could fit just about any respiratory virus, making it difficult to diagnose. They generally include high fever, sore throat, muscle aches, nausea and occasionally diarrhea.
Individuals should be thinking ahead, planning on how they will deal with issues such as local school closures if they should be ordered. Parents may need to stay home with their kids, or make other arrangements for them.
People should be finding out how to get good local information from their community health department, government, and schools.
They need to stay informed.
Wash hands frequently to reduce the spread of the virus. Cover coughs and sneezes. Don't touch eyes & nose with potentially contaminated hands, and of course, stay home when Ill.
The CDC plans to hold frequent (probably daily) news conferences like this one for the foreseeable future.
