H1N1 Flu and Patients With Cardiovascular Disease (Heart Disease and Stroke): Interim Guidance and Considerations for Health Care Providers and for State and Local Public Health Agencies -- Use of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for Patients with Influenza-like Illness during the Novel H1N1 Influenza Virus (Swine Flu) Outbreak -- Interim Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Guidance for Cruise Ships.

May 3, 2009, 22:00 EST (100:00 PM EDT)

HANINFO-00287-09-05-03-N

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues its response to the H1N1 Flu outbreak. As of May 3, 226 human infections with novel H1N1 flu have been confirmed in 30 states in the United States. Yesterday, CDC reported 160 cases in 21 states. This jump in case numbers is more than likely due to catch up confirmation of lab results. As testing continues in many other states, more cases and more states are expected to be added.

CDC’s goals continue to be to reduce transmission and illness severity and provide information to assist health care providers, public health officials and the public. To this end, CDC continues to update or create interim guidance documents.

As of May 3, additional resources for the public health workforce and clinicians were posted to the CDC web site to assist in addressing the challenges posed by this newly identified influenza virus.

Health Alert Network (HAN)

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