The World Health Organization has declared a swine flu pandemic, the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
Infections continue to climb in the United States, Europe, Australia and South America. And the H1N1 flu is still spreading as the start of summer nears in the northern hemisphere. Normally, flu viruses disappear after weather turns warm, but swine flu is proving to be resilient.
On the one hand, the vast majority of infections have been mild. But, of the 141 people who have died from swine flu worldwide, half were young and healthy — people who aren’t usually susceptible to flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports flu is currently widespread in five states: Arizona, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
For more information from the CDC on the flu, click here.