UN warns that swine flu outbreak could turn into pandemic
BMJ 2009; 338 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b1751 (Published 27 April 2009) Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b1751
- Fred Charatan
- 1Florida
A strain of influenza never seen before is thought to have killed more than 100 people in Mexico and infected more than 1600 others, Jose Angel Cordova, the country’s health minister, has said.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that since March 2009 swine flu had infected 20 people in the states of New York, Texas, California, Kansas, and Ohio. Its investigations indicate human to human transmission of the virus. The US government has declared a health emergency.
The virus is being described as a new subtype of A/H1N1 not previously detected in pigs or humans. It is unique among human, pig, and avian flu viruses. Of the deaths reported in Mexico, 20 are confirmed as having been caused by the new virus.
Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health …