As of Tuesday, April 28th 50 confirmed cases of the swine flu have been confirmed in the United States.  Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared a public emergency that is called “standard protocol” for activating all the agencies of government necessary to deal with the potential health crisis.  There are no reported deaths from swine flu in any of the cases reported in the U.S.

“That sounds more severe than really it is,” she said. “This is standard operating procedure and allows us to free up federal, state, and local agencies and their resources.” She noted that the government had made the same declaration for recent flooding in North Dakota and Minnesota and for the inauguration of President Obama.

The cases confirmed in the U.S. have been mild cases of the flu and therefore precautionary measures have been taken.  With the announcement of a public health emergency, civilian and military stockpiles of antiviral drugs were being readied for rapid distribution in the event the disease spreads. 

In Mexico, 86 people have died from the swine flu and 1,400 have been diagnosed with the infection.  Symptoms of swine flu are similar to other influenza strains and  spreads through person to person contact.  To read more about the disease, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. 

 The CDC is advising against non-essential travel to Mexico.  

For Tuesday’s updates, visit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042800757.html?hpid=topnews

*ElectWomen Magazine is reporting on the swine flu outbreak because of the potential impact that it has upon the world.  The United States will rely on key women, in addition to others throughout the world, to handle this potentially threatening health situation.  ElectWomen Magazine is following the news from Janet  Napolitano’s office as well as the much awaited senate confirmation of Health and Human Services Cabinet Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius.