| ■ CDC's swine flu toll: 4,000 dead, 22 million ill | 2009.11.13 |
| By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer - Fri Nov 13, 6:15 AM PST WASHINGTON - Estimates of deaths caused by the swine flu have grown to nearly 4,000 since April, roughly quadrupling previous estimates. But that doesn't mean swine flu suddenly has worsened. Instead, the federal numbers made public Thursday reflect a long-awaited better attempt to quantify the new flu's true toll. Most cases still don't require a doctor's care. Swine flu has sickened about 22 million Americans since April and killed about 540 children. And it's still early in the season. "I am expecting all of these numbers, unfortunately, to continue to rise," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We have a long flu season ahead of us." Tight supplies of vaccine to combat the illness continue: Not quite 42 million doses are currently available, a few million less than CDC had predicted last week. |