Swine flu has sickened 22 million in the U.S.

[DearAbby]

CDC: 4,000 in U.S. died, including 540 kids, between April and mid-October

ATLANTA - Swine flu sickened about 22 million Americans between April and mid-October — and the newly estimated toll is only expected to rise, government health officials said Thursday.

About 4,000 people have died, including 540 children, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's director of immunization and respiratory diseases.

The startling new figures — about four times higher than previous death estimates — don't mean swine flu has suddenly gotten worse. Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday called them a long-awaited better attempt to understand the virus' true toll.

Link

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33881535/ns/health-cold_and_flu/

[DearAbby]

1. Flu interactive map -

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30435064/ns/health-cold_and_flu

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. I strongly suspect it's swine flu that has taken my family down over the last couple of weeks.

Weren't able to get the shots.

[theoldman]

4. Without a lab test you will never know.

[theoldman]

3. 22 million sounds a little high.

Most people who thought they had the swine flu just had the regular flu.

[distantearlywarning]

5. I don't think so.

Everything I've heard from the health professionals I know personally indicates that the regular flu season hasn't even really started yet, and that literally 95% plus of flu cases in my local area are H1N1.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

10. It was 99% till mid October.

[NeedleCast]

6. I'm confused by some of this information

4,000 have died of immunization and respiratory diseases...does that mean swine ful, or all immunization and respiratory diseases combined?

Doesn't seem like a very big figure in a country with 330 million residents.

[uppityperson]

8. "Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's director of immunization and respiratory diseases."

SHE is the director, not that they died of immunization and resp diseases.

[uppityperson]

7. Just found out a local man died Aug, H1N1 complications

They just got the tests back and he was one.

[Bluebear]

9. Good thing I was told here that this flu was the "last thing we should worry about"

I knew then that it was an idiotic statement, but what the hey.