CDC states U.S. swine flu virus same as deadly Mexican virus

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 8 confirmed cases of swine flu virus in the U.S. (6 in California, 2 in Texas, all of whom have recovered). Testing of the virus has revealed that it is influenza A, type H1N1, the same virus that has killed at least 60 people in Mexico. The CDC is concerned because nearly 1,000 people have fallen ill in Mexico, mostly in Mexico City, in a short period of time.

Normally, swine flu affects only pigs, not humans. However, it sometimes can pass to people who come in contact with sick pigs. The CDC, in a press briefing on April 23, stated about the U.S. cases, "None of the patients have had direct contact with pigs. You can get swine influenza without direct contact but it's a bit more unusual. And we believe at this point that human-to-human spread is occurring." The swine flu viruses the CDC has tested are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine anti-viral drugs but they are sensitive or susceptible to oseltamivir and zanamivir, the newer anti-viral drugs for flu.

• More about what swine flu is
• CDC Briefing on Public Health Investigation of Human Cases of Swine Influenza
• CNN article - CDC: Swine flu viruses in U.S. and Mexico match
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Photo courtesy of the USDA