ATLANTA, Apr 26, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Federal health officials have
confirmed 11 human cases of swine flu in the United States -- seven in
California, two in Texas and two in Kansas.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said they
have deployed seven epidemiologists to San Diego County and Imperial County,
Calif., and one senior medical officer to Texas to provide guidance and
technical support for the ongoing epidemiologic field investigations.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or
sneezing of infected people, a statement from the CDC said.
The viruses contain a unique combination of gene segments that have not been
reported previously among swine or human influenza viruses in the U.S. or
elsewhere. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for
the treatment of infection with swine influenza viruses.
The H1N1 viruses are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine but not to
oseltamivir or zanamivir. It is not anticipated that the seasonal influenza
vaccine will provide protection against the swine flu H1N1 viruses, the CDC
said.
People with respiratory illness should stay home to avoid spreading infections
-- including influenza and other respiratory illnesses -- to others, the CDC
said.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International