World Health Org declares flu outbreak a pandemic
Thursday, June 11th, 2009
By: Kerry Grens
kgrens@whyy.org
After cataloging more than 27,000 cases of H1N1 (swine) flu, the World Health Organization today declared the outbreak a pandemic. Hundreds in the region have been infected with this new strain of influenza since it emerged from Mexico two months ago, including more than 500 people in Pennsylvania, 235 people in New Jersey, and 139 cases in Delaware. Two Pennsylvanians have died from the complications related to the infection. The pandemic designation does not mean the virus is any more virulent, but relates to how the virus is spreading. Vaccine producers, including Sanofi Aventis in Swiftwater, PA and a subsidiary of Delaware-based Astrazeneca, are working to develop a flu shot against the pandemic strain in time for this year's flu season in the fall.
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