Flu still spreading in U.S., CDC says
Passengers arriving from Monterrey, Mexico wheel their bags outside of DFW airport in Fort Worth, Texas April 30, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Swine flu is still spreading widely across the United States, officials said on Friday, with 75 percent of serious cases and 60 percent of deaths among people under the age of 49.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially confirmed 7,963 hospitalizations and 522 deaths from the pandemic H1N1 flu, CDC's Dr. Jay Butler told reporters in a telephone briefing.
"It is important to remember that at this time of year we don't normally have influenza," Butler said.
He said the government expected to have 45 million to 52 million swine flu vaccine doses by mid October, when vaccination is expected to begin, and 195 million by the end of the year.
