# 3252
In the same vein as my last blog on this morning’s WHO totals, we get this excellent reporting from Jason Gale of Bloomberg news on the widening gap between `official’ swine flu numbers and reality.
This is a long article, but is well worth reading in its entirety.
Swine Flu Is Spreading Wider Than Official Data Show (Update2)
By Jason Gale
May 25 (Bloomberg) -- Swine flu is spreading more widely than official figures indicate, with outbreaks in Europe and Asia showing it’s gained a foothold in at least three regions.
One in 20 cases is being officially reported in the U.S., meaning more than 100,000 people have probably been infected nationwide with the new H1N1 flu strain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the U.K., the virus may be 300 times more widespread than health authorities have said, the Independent on Sunday reported yesterday.
Japan, which has reported the most cases in Asia, began reopening schools at the weekend after health officials said serious medical complications had not emerged in those infected. The virus is now spreading in the community in Australia, Jim Bishop, the nation’s chief medical officer, said yesterday.
<snip>
Already a Pandemic
Community spread of the new virus in a second region means WHO’s criteria for a pandemic has been met, said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy of the University of Minneapolis.
My thanks to Florida1 on Flutrackers for the heads up on this article.
