CafeSentido.com :: The influenza A/H1N1 virus, popularly known as “swine flu” was officially declared a pandemic in June. Shortly after the pandemic declaration, it was confirmed that H1N1 was confirmed in human patients in 74 countries. In the 5 weeks since then, it has spread rapidly and is now confirmed to have caused human infection in 140 countries.
In a CDC conference call, on 11 June 2009, officials reported:
Our U.S. situation, we are continuing to see ongoing transmission of this novel virus. The virus has reached every state in the country. Many of the states are seeing decreases in illness but there are a couple of areas where influenza-like illness is still above the baseline for this time of year. Our case counts, we’ve been increasing them every week at this point … There are over 1,000 people who have been hospitalized that have been reported to us.
13,000 cases of infection had been reported at that time. As of 16 July, the CDC is reporting 37,246 cases of human infection and 211 confirmed H1N1-related deaths. With nearly three times the number of confirmed cases in the US now as when the pandemic was announced, officials continue to express concern the virus may be far more widespread than notable cases of illness would indicate.