Cold, Flu, & Cough Health Center

WHO Rethinks Swine Flu Pandemic Criteria

Latest Swine Flu Numbers continued...

Schuchat said that nationally, the number of cases "seems to be falling" but is rising or still high in some areas. She cautioned against becoming complacent and urged people to keep washing their hands, cover their coughs or sneezes, and stay home when sick.

"We don't want people to think we're out of the woods yet," said Schuchat, noting that it's not clear yet if the virus will stay in circulation this summer or worsen in the fall.

In other swine flu news, Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that she is directing about $1 billion in existing funds to prepare to make an H1N1 swine flu vaccine.

That money will fund clinical studies that will be done this summer and for commercial-scale production of two potential vaccine ingredients for the pre-pandemic influenza stockpile.