Battling Swine Flu

Battling Swine Flu http://www.livingstories.googlelabs.com/lsps/swineflu <div style="padding: 5px; float: right; width: 150px;"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/10/26/us/6792_1_swine_190x126.jpg" width="150"> Video: Vaccine Shortfall </div> Summary: Federal health officials say the current wave of swine flu has peaked in the United States, where flu activity is down in all regions except Hawaii, Maine and some isolated areas. In its most recent estimate, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 4,000 Americans have died from complications related to the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, including more than 230 children and teenagers who have died of confirmed cases. Meanwhile, health officials continue to defend their handling of the nation's swine flu vaccination program, despite a vaccine shortage that has stretched more than six weeks. Globally, the World Health Organization has been rushing vaccine supplies to hard-hit countries.  Over all, the rate of fatalities associated with swine flu is about equivalent to that of traditional flu. But it is striking certain groups harder, including pregnant women, those with underlying illnesses like asthma, and young children. The federal government and local officials are trying to respond to the crisis by making swine flu vaccine available. But their efforts have been hampered by production delays and problems with distribution and availability. Separately, some parents worry that the vaccine may harm their children more than help them, though medical experts have described such fears as ill founded. Since being declared a global pandemic on June 11, 2009, the H1N1 virus has infected more than one million people in the United States and caused more than 600 deaths and more than 6,000 hospitalizations. The flu is now present in more than 168 countries. Some, like China and Ukraine, have taken drastic actions to control the flu, like banning public gatherings or implementing strict quarantines.