There were signs today that the swine flu outbreak might be milder than originally expected, but, predicting viral pandemics is not unlike trying to herd stray cats. As health officials monitor the situation, they must decide whether the current viral spread is the spark to start the pandemic, or whether it will fizzle and reignite in several months. In 1968, they were right to be concerned about a pandemic, but in 1976, a panic about swine flu caused more than 40 million American to be vaccinated and a pandemic never materialized.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed an earlier advisory and said schools should not close unless so many students and teachers were sick that they could not function. The New York Times reported that New York State continued to lead the tally of H1N1 cases, with 90 confirmed cases. Although the virus has continued to spread across the U.S. and to other countries, fewer deaths have occurred than initially expected by this time. Texas reported its second death and the the first American to succumb from complications of the virus The 33-year old school teacher, who lived near the border of Mexico, reportedly had a pre-existing condition that was exacerbated by the H1N1
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