Swine Flu Cases Rise to 11 in US; 8 Probable in NYC

Swine flu pandemic fears grew today as three new cases surfaced in Kansas and California, bringing the US total to 11. Meanwhile, doctors diagnosed eight "probable" cases among New York City schoolchildren, MSNBC reports. The US victims appear to be recovering, in contrast to Mexico, where 81 people have died and the president has declared an emergency. “We don’t think we can contain the spread,” a CDC official said. “It's time to be prepared for some uncertainty.”

New York City authorities began testing students after 100 of them fell ill last week. The city’s health commissioner called the appearance of person-to-person infection “concerning,” but added, “We have seen no increase citywide in flu-like cases.” The city is having Tamiflu treatments shipped in, the AP notes. Humans aren’t naturally immune to swine flu, as they are to common influenza, because it includes animal genes.
(More swine flu stories.)