CDC Statement: ‘Fully expect we will see deaths’
Posted April 28, 2009 – 3:03 pm in: CDC, scientific analysis, swine fluIn a statement designed to share realistic expectations with the public, the CDC announced that they would not be surprised to see some deaths due to the swine flu. It is natural that the flu causes a number of deaths each year, and so a number of the deaths from swine flu would not be surpising.
A U.S. health official said at least five people are hospitalized with swine flu in the United States and deaths are likely. “I fully expect we will see deaths from this infection,” as swine flu cases are investigated, said Richard Besser, acting director of the federal Centers for Disease Control.
“I would say I’m very concerned,” Besser said. “We are dealing with a new strain of influenza, we’re dealing with a strain of influenza that appears to be moving through our community.” He noted that ordinary human flu accounts for about 36,000 deaths every year in the U.S.
Tags: CDC, deaths, swine flu