U.S. fears possible deaths as flu virus spreads

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - A top official at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sunday she feared some people in the United States would die as a new strain of swine flu spreads.

The agency's Dr. Anne Schuchat said in a telephone briefing with reporters that officials are preparing for a possible spread of the illness beyond the 20 cases confirmed in the United States and added, "I do fear that we will have deaths."

All of the U.S. cases have been reported to be mild, but the swine flu has killed up to 81 people in Mexico.