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Swine flu update May 12, 2009 - slideshow and videos
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The World Health Organization announced that the majority of H1N1 flu patients will not require antiviral drugs to recover. WHO stated that it still was important to develop a vaccine because of a risk of future drug resistance.
Most patients will be able to recover by resting and by drinking plenty of water.
European countries have been using antiviral drugs much more aggressively than the U.S. and Mexico. The virus has been linked to 63 deaths spreads around the planet.
WHO recommended the U.S. approach of saving stockpiles of Tamiflu and Relenza for pregnant women and patients most at risk – those with underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Mexico's toll rose to 58 deaths and 2,282 confirmed cases of swine flu – two more deaths and 223 more cases since Monday. Officials say the rise reflects a testing backlog. The last confirmed case was May 8.
WHO confirmed thousands of swine flu cases in 33 countries. The U.S. has the most cases at 3,009, followed by Mexico with 2, 282 and Canada with 330. Along with those in Mexico, swine flu has contributed to the deaths of three people in the U.S., one in Canada and one in Costa Rica.
The new strain of H1N1 flu acts more like a pandemic strain than regular seasonal flu, researchers reported on Monday. They said it was transmitted more easily and affects young adults more often than annual flu strains,
WHO’s current pandemic alert is a level 5, one step down from a full pandemic.
Yesterday, researchers announced that as many as 23,000 Mexicans were likely infected with the swine flu virus.
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