Swine Flu Update – May 18 – Possibility for Summer Flu Season

Sixth U.S. Death is New York Teacher

From Centers for Disease Control Briefing this afternoon:

Dr. Anne Schuchat:  … My first statement to you is the H1N1 is not going away, despite what you may have heard. As you know, the World Health Assembly is convening from Geneva, and the Department of Health and Human Services is at the Assembly. We are expecting the H1N1 issue to dominate the meeting, and I wanted to alert you to Director General Margaret Chan’s statement from the W.H.O. She said that influenza viruses are the ultimate moving target, and I think that really captures that scenario we’re coping with right now. This novel H1N1 virus is still circulating in the United States. People are continuing to get sick, to get hospitalized, and unfortunately, to die. At this point, there are six deaths that have been reported officially. And, you know, we feel for the families that are experiencing those losses. …

Dr. Schuchat was asked if H1N1 has a higher death rate than seasonal influenza:

Dr. Schuchat:   … You know, the death rate – are we seeing more fatalities than we would expect with seasonal influenza, or a higher proportion of illness than with seasonal influenza?  I think our best estimate right now is that the fatality is likely a little bit higher than seasonal influenza, but not necessarily substantially higher.  On the other hand, the hospitalizations that we’re tracking have this disproportionate occurrence among younger persons.  That’s very unusual to have, you know, so many people under 20 requiring hospitalization and in some of those intensive care units.  We’re trying to actively investigate those and get better characteristics of what the illness looks like. …

• Swine Flu Kills New Yorker, Virus Not Going Away – Bloomberg
• U.S. Health Officials Troubled by New Flu Pattern – Reuters
• Japan Acts to Contain Swine Flu Outbreak – New York Times

Swine Flu Update: April 28, P.M. – Mexican Pig Farm Source, U.S. Cases Rise, More Travel Restrictions to Mexico Worldwide

• Pig farm seen as source – Houston Chronicle
• New infections intensify travel fears – Reuters
• Flu spreads to 7 countries – New York Times
• CA Governor declares flu emergency – Los Angeles Times
• Worldwide response – BBC
• Pandemic plans stepped up – Guardian (U.K.)
• Experts study flu’s variations – Washington Post

Binghamton Massacre – Local & National News Coverage

Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin:

• Hinchey: Shooter was laid off from IBM
• Binghamton Shooting: Gunman kills 13, himself at Civic Association
• Bang, bang, bang
• Items seized from suspect’s home
• Civic Association links immigrants with community

National Media:

• Gunman invaded citizenship class – New York Times
• Officials look for motives in Binghamton shootings – Christian Science Monitor
• Gunman kills 13 in Upstate N.Y. immigrant center – Bloomberg
• 14 die at community center in N.Y. – Associated Press