">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Cautious optimism on flu but US 'not out of woods'
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
Cautious optimism on flu but US 'not out of woods'
AP - Monday, May 4
WASHINGTON - U.S. health officials are cautiously optimistic that the new swine flu isn't as dangerous as first feared, but urged people to keep taking commonsense precautions _ and they can't predict if it will roar back in the fall.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We're not out of the woods yet," said Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With swine flu, or the H1N1 flu as the government prefers to call it, now in 21 states and counting, authorities say it's spreading just as easily as regular winter flu, but fortunately doesn't seem to cause as severe disease as it did in Mexico, where there are signs the outbreak is waning.
But the CDC says its own count is outdated almost as soon as it's announced. More cases are being confirmed daily. About one-third so far are people who had been to Mexico and probably picked up the infection there. Many newly infected people are getting the illness in the U.S., and the CDC says it probably still is spreading.
More concerning is whether the virus will return, perhaps harder, when regular influenza begins its march here. Flu season in the Southern Hemisphere is about to begin, and U.S. authorities will watch how the swine flu circulates there over the coming months as they prepare the first vaccine and then decide whether to order that large amounts of it be produced in the fall.
Meanwhile, production of regular winter flu vaccine is going full-tilt, "to make sure we kind of clear the decks," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.
"We can be ready to do both simultaneously. This isn't an either/or," she said of the two different vaccines.
Even if the new virus doesn't prove as potent as authorities feared, Besser said that doesn't mean the U.S. and World Health Organization overreacted in racing to prevent a pandemic, or worldwide spread, of a virus never before seen.
With a new infectious disease, "you basically get one shot, you get one chance to try to reduce the impact," Besser said. "You take a very aggressive approach and as you learn more information you can tailor your response."
It was just over a week ago that authorities learned the new flu CDC had detected in a handful of people in California was causing a large outbreak and deaths in Mexico, triggering global alarm.
"We didn't know what its lethality was going to be. We had to move. Once you get behind flu, you can't catch up," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said.
And if the new flu proves no more lethal than regular winter flu, consider that those garden-variety strains hospitalize 200,000 Americans and kill 36,000 every year. That is why Besser keeps warning that as swine flu spreads to enough people, more severe illness is likely to follow.
Besser, Sebelius and Napolitano appeared on "Fox News Sunday" and ABC's "This Week," with later interviews scheduled for CNN's "State of the Union," CBS' "Face the Nation," and "Meet the Press" on NBC.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
0 users recommend
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Swine Flu
Spain leads Europe in swine flu cases with 40AP - 2 hours 37 minutes ago
Developments on swine flu worldwideAP - 2 hours 46 minutes ago
Spain hits 20 swine flu cases, most in EuropeAP - Monday, May 4
Obama calls Mexico president about swine fluAP - Monday, May 4
Related Articles: World
Cause not yet known in 28-injury tour bus wreckAP - 46 minutes ago
Berlusconi wife wants divorce: reportsAFP - 51 minutes ago
Edwards acknowledges probe over campaign fundsAP - 1 hour 5 minutes ago
Italian premier Berlusconi's wife seeking divorceAP - 1 hour 7 minutes ago
Senators: Look beyond the bench for a new justiceAP - 1 hour 9 minutes ago
Related Full Coverage
Full Coverage on swine flu
More on swine flu
All Full Coverage
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Kenyan women to sex-starve men -- for politics
Citigroup may need $10 bln more: report
Amy Winehouse hospitalised after fainting
Swine flu spreads economic shivers
Chrysler begins court bid for quick bankruptcy exit
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Sunday, 3 May 2009 Two U.S. soldiers killed in northern Iraq
| International
|
Israel picks U.S. immigrant for new Washington envoy
| International
|
African Union panel on Darfur will meet ICC: Mbeki
| International
|
French forces grab 3 Somali pirates in Seychelles
| International
|
Gates on US troop numbers in Afghanistan
Anatomy of an `inside' ambush in Iraq
Gunman in Iraqi army uniform kills 2 US soldiers
Pakistan sets up Islamic court for restive region
| International
|
Millionaire magnate lures poor in Panama election
| International
|
Around 30 militants said killed in Afghan attacks
GM could follow Chrysler into bankruptcy: analysts
Gunmen kill Albanian opposition MP ahead of polls
| International
|
US, Canada, Mexico call for flu not to hit trade
Iran hangs woman convicted of murder as a minor
Fiat boss expected to discuss Opel bid with Germany
CORRECTED: Afghan presidential hopeful promises Talib
| International
|
Israeli airstrike against Gaza tunnels kills 2
Iran to review jail sentence of U.S.-born reporter
Amy Winehouse hospitalised after fainting
CORRECTED
Iran shells Kurdish rebel positions in north Iraq
BLM to get $300 million for stimulus projects
Buffett offers bleak outlook for U.S. newspapers
| Technology
|
Clinton returns to Oklahoma bombing site for tour
Boston Globe gets brief reprieve from closure
Spokeswoman: Jack Kemp, one-time VP nominee, dies
Airman in Alaska sentenced for forced miscarriage
At least 3 dead in Russia gas blast
Obamas take a walk, holding hands in the evening
Unpopular Sarkozy recasts his national role
Tweaked about fake tweets, Idaho gov joins Twitter
More than half L'Aquila quake homes 'habitable': Berlusconi
Venezuela's Chavez courts Iran as US shows concern
Chechen president denies link to exile's murder: report
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,284
Mo. woman convicted of murder commits suicide
Malaysia's 'McCurry' cheers win over McDonald's
Judge: Mumbai attacks suspect to be tried as adult
Pakistan: Islamic appellate court formed
Sri Lanka rebels ask British, French to seek truce
Asia reports no new swine flu cases
'Draconian' powers seen to contain swine flu
Pacquiao knocks out Hatton for historic triumph
Global Weather-Celsius
60 years after WWII, Okinawa still rife with bombs
Asia must retool to boost domestic demand: ADB
Pakistan sets up Islamic court for restive region
Japan offers 38.4 bln dlrs to Asian pool: minister
Swine flu could worsen global recession: analysts
Comedian Robert Schimmel arrested in assault case
Review: Welser-Moest gives magic to Wagner
WWOZ gives New Orleans Jazz Fest to the world
Girl's father does not want Madonna to adopt her
Irish recession strains marriages: church
`Wolverine' has box-office bite with $35M debut
Nepal Maoists sack army chief
| International
|
Egypt pig farmers clash with police over slaughter
U.S. urges calm after three die in south Yemen clashes
| International
|
Israel considers pullout from Lebanon border village
Berlusconi's wife wants to file for divorce: press
| International
|
Israel's Lieberman off to Europe amid tensions
Iraqi forces arrest U.S.-allied militia leader
| International
|
Father rejects Madonna's adoption bid: report
Pakistan's Imran Khan barred from Karachi
| International
|
Afghan music school emerges from ruins
Six climbers killed in Austria Alps avalanche
| International
|
Obama set for 'intense' Pakistan, Afghan summit
Zimbabwe orders school fee cuts as economy struggles
| International
|
Ethanol test for Obama on climate change, science
Israel considers pullout from Lebanon border village
| International
|
Medvedev brings new style to the Kremlin
| International
|
NATO games in Georgia draw fire from Russia
| International
|
Cautious optimism on flu but US 'not out of woods'
Ethanol test for Obama on climate change, science
THE INFLUENCE GAME: Lobbyists prosper in downturn
Iran: US journalist's case will get fair review
SC search for missing NY teen turns up no clues
Canadian party taps Ignatieff as leader
Times Co., Boston Globe unions resume negotiations
Cause not yet known in 28-injury tour bus wreck
2 win Alaska betting game, guess river ice breakup
Afghan rights chief fears vote fraud against women
Key party quits Nepal's coalition government
Taliban behead two Pakistani officials in Swat
Pakistan creates Islamic court
Sydney police rescue alleged burglar from rooftop
Mexico sees swine flug coming under control
HBO's Alzheimer's series aims to push for cure
| Entertainment
|
Philippine rebels attack plantation, 9 wounded
Rights chief warns of Afghan vote fraud
Nepal's prime minister fires army chief
Brazil films shown in NY examine slums, hunger
| Entertainment
|
ASEAN, China, Japan, SKorea finalise crisis pact
Asia urged to rethink growth policies amid crisis
'Best job' contenders arrive on Aussie island
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights