Swine Flu Outbreak in TX, CA Linked to Mexican Strain

CDC acting director Richard Besser told reporters in a telephone briefing that outbreaks in both countries is due to the same unusual genetic strain of the virus. In fact, of the 14 samples tested from Mexico, seven were matches.

In Mexico, as many as 61 people have died. In the United States, 8 cases have been confirmed, but there have been no deaths.

This strain first looked mostly like a swine virus but closer analysis showed it is a never-before-seen mixture of swine, human and avian viruses. This has raised fears of a possible pandemic across North America.

Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said said:

“It is a virus that mutated from pigs and then at some point was transmitted to humans.”

WHO spokesman Thomas Abraham said:

"We are very, very concerned. We have what appears to be a novel virus and it has spread from human to human."