More Swine Flu Deaths Hit Mexico, United States, China

“The death toll in Mexico from an outbreak of A(H1N1) swine flu has hit nine, with 573 cases detected, officials say.

The strain represents some 90 percent of detected cases of influenza in the country, the health ministry said in a statement.

The number of cases reported was up sharply from Thursday, when health officials said 333 had been identified. Authorities have brushed aside suggestions of a new health emergency but have begun tracking new cases since December 2011.

The first outbreak of the A(H1N1) virus occurred in April, 2009 in Mexico and the United States, and quickly became a global pandemic that claimed the lives of 17,000 people. In Mexico alone, more than 1250 people died.

The World Health Organization declared the pandemic over in 2010 as the flu returned to typical seasonal patterns.” Source – Herald Sun.

N.C. reports another swine flu death – “Health officials say a 55-year-old man diagnosed with swine flu died this week. The man was admitted to a Transylvania County hospital on Monday with pneumonia and flu-like symptoms. He died on Tuesday, county Health Department Director Steve Smith said. Tests confirmed the man had H1N1 swine flu, Smith said Friday. But he said further tests are needed to determine if the flu caused his death. The man’s name was not released. Officials said he was the first confirmed death associated with swine flu in the western North Carolina county.” Read more.

China reports second bird flu death in a month – “China on Sunday reported its second bird flu fatality in a month following deaths last week in Vietnam and Cambodia. The patient died Sunday in Guizhou province in the southwest after being hospitalized on Jan. 6, the health ministry said in a brief statement. It said the flu was highly pathogenic but gave no indication whether it was confirmed to be the H5N1 strain. Mainland officials told Hong Kong authorities the patient was a 39-year-old man who reported having no contact with poultry, government-run Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK said. It gave no other details of his identity.” Read more.