Swine flu in TX and CA, and an unidentified virus in Canada

CDC confirms 7 cases of swine flu in humans - CNN.com

A total of seven cases of a previously undetected strain of swine flu have been confirmed in humans in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. None of the patients has had direct contact with pigs.

While this has no impact on Colorado at this time, it is a concern - especially in light of the news of an unusual virus observed in Canadians who traveled to Mexico:

CTV.ca | Canadians told to be on alert for Mexico illness

What is really ringing the bells for me is how they say in this article that, "The flu-like condition has so far affected healthy young adults between the ages 25 and 44. The victims showed influenza-like symptoms that progressed to "severe respiratory distress" within five days."

Sound familiar?

While this will likely NOT result in a pandemic of any sort, or a turn into a significant threat to the US, it does demonstrates just how poor our national surveillance and communication systems are in the current US public heath system.

The Canadians for the past two days have been issuing public warnings about a mysterious respiratory flu-like illness in Mexico, while we here in the US have not heard a word about it, not even on the governmental public health side (including EpiX, HAN etc....).

We have still have lot of work to do. Please read.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090423/mexico_illness_090423/20090423/?hub=TorontoNewHome