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Empire State Building - Source: ONE News -
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Kansas state health officials confirmed two cases of swine flu
in Kansas, just minutes after New York health officials said they
had eight probable cases.
Health officials across the United States are testing for the new
and unusual strain of H1N1 swine flu that is suspected of killing
68 people in Mexico and has caused mild illness in at least eight
people in the United States.
In New York, tests have confirmed that eight New York City
schoolchildren had a type A influenza virus, likely swine flu, city
Health Commissioner Dr Thomas Frieden said.
Samples have been sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention for further testing to see if they are indeed the
unusual H1N1 flu strain that has killed up to 68 people in Mexico
and may have sickened others, Frieden told a news conference.
"In every single case, illness was mild. Many of the children are
feeling better," Frieden said.
"What is concerning about this is that it is likely swine flu and
second that it is spreading person to person," Frieden said. He
added, "We have seen no increase citywide in flu-like cases."
About 100 students at a school in the New York City borough of
Queens became sick last week, prompting the tests, according to
local media reports.
A quick throat swab test can tell if a person has influenza but
further testing is usually required to determine the strain.
The World Health Organisation has declared the swine flu outbreaks
in Mexico and the United States a "public health event of
international concern," but says more information is needed before
raising the pandemic threat level.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed
eight people from California and Texas were infected with the H1N1
strain, but all had recovered.
