MSNBC reports that the CDC says that swine flu is spreading far and fast and that the number of confirmed cases (currently 2,600) is just the "tip of the iceberg." MSNBC says state health officials may soon have to stop counting individual cases because there are so many.
The novel H1N1 virus accounted for 40 percent of flu viruses logged in the U.S. in the past week and helped propel an uptick in overall flu-like illnesses, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, a deputy director with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I think the cases we're confirming are the tip of the iceberg here," Schuchat said in a press briefing Monday.
The CDC has confirmed 2,600 cases in 43 states and Washington D.C., with 94 hospitalizations and three deaths. Another 700 cases are suspected. Although the flu is spreading quickly, it remains relatively mild in the U.S., say health officials.
"They tell us for sure this virus is circulating throughout the United States and it's likely to be in every state," Schuchat said, adding: "It's a time when we really need to guard against complacency as we move to a new normal."
Schuchat said she expects there will be a big jump in cases reported Tuesday. So far only three deaths have been reported and each case the CDC says the person had underlying health problems. It is concerning that H1N1 is spreading so quickly during the summer months. The CDC's swine flu resources can be found here. Links to U.S. state health websites can be found here.
Photo: Image of the H1N1 Influenza Virus from CDC's images page
MSNBC 
