Swine Flu in California
Two mysterious cases of swine flu have been found in Imperial and San Diego counties, leading to an investigation by local, state and federal health officials to find the source.
A 9-year-old girl in Imperial County and a 10-year-old boy in San Diego County were identified as having had the virus, officials said Tuesday.
Only 12 other cases of human infection have been detected since 2005, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
11 of the patients had had contact with pigs.
Documented cases of swine flu being transmitted from one human to another are rare, according to the CDCP.
The 1976 outbreak concerned scientists because the virus appeared similar to the one linked tothe 1918-19 pandemic in which tens of millions of people died worldwide.
Investigators in the current cases are considering whether improved testing is now detecting cases that otherwise wouldn’t have been.
Source: LA Times
