Swine Flu Comes to the U.S.

After infecting perhaps hundreds of people and killing scores in Mexico, eight cases of swine flu have been diagnosed in the U.S.—six in California and two in Texas.

Los Angeles Times:

The cases were identified during routine screening of virus samples, and federal authorities have called for intensified screening of samples from flu victims in the area and in flu victims who have recently traveled to Mexico.

The outbreak has caused concern because the virus appears to be spread from human to human, which is the crucial requirement for a new virus to precipitate a large-scale outbreak.

CDC researchers have so far found no links among the U.S. victims or any common behaviors, Besser said, suggesting “that there has been transmission through several cycles”—that is, there were several intermediaries who passed it among themselves before the virus reached the identified victims.

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