As of Friday, the H1N1 flu virus, commonly known as swine flu, had spread to 19 states across the nation, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 141 confirmed human cases of the disease, which has resulted in one U.S. fatality. Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey and Virginia were added to list of states that have been affected, with New York having the most cases at 50.
The CDC also updated its guidance for healthcare facilities on its Web site to include infection-control recommendations, including suggestions for ill patients in those settings. The agency also provided information for the management of ill healthcare personnel, suggesting that those who develop a feverish respiratory illness and have been working in areas where swine influenza patients are present should be excluded from work for seven days or until symptoms have subsided, whichever is longer.
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama requested an immediate $1.5 billion in emergency funding from Congress to support the government’s ability to monitor and track the virus, and also build the nation’s supply of anti-viral drugs and other equipment. A CDC spokeswoman said it has not yet been determined how those funds will be allocated.
