The state of New York reported its first fatality linked to the ongoing Influenza A(H1N1) outbreak.  Mitchell Wiener, the 55-year-old assistant principal of Intermediate School 238 in Queens, New York died Sunday May 17 at a local hospital.

Mexico Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova, on April 27, said school at all levels nationwide would be suspended until May 6.

Henry L Niman, PhD USC (http://www.recombinomics.com/founder.html) said in a video interview on April 28 (http://www.wpxi.com/video/19313969/index.html)  that the most at risk population is healthy young adults, between ages 25 and 44. They are most at risk because of a stronger immune system response.

5/22/2009:  At least 300 people in the U.S. have been hospitalized as the result of having been infected by the Influenza A(H1N1) virus (http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSN22387871)

6/11/2009: World Health Organization (WHO) declares level 6 pandemic (http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLAW00009920090611).

Excerpts from Bloomberg article (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a7kXfdP.iO1o):

"A study in the May 11 edition of the journal Science found that 4 of every 1,000 people infected with the bug in Mexico by late April died, and the WHO said the virus 'appears to be more contagious' than seasonal flu, which kills 250,000 to 500,000 people each year."

"More than 28,000 cases of swine flu have been confirmed, including at least 144 deaths, WHO said today. Unlike seasonal flu, which causes the most death and disease among the 'frail elderly,' Chan said the new bug is preferentially targeting the young and causing potentially fatal complications in otherwise healthy people aged 30 to 50, pregnant women and those with asthma, diabetes and obesity."

"Three main human flu strains -- H3N2, another H1N1 variant and type-B -- circulate and infect as many as 5 million people a year in seasonal epidemics, according to the WHO. Most seasonal flu patients experience two toseven days of illness and recover without medical treatment."

"Three pandemics have occurred in the last century: the Spanish flu in 1918, the Asian flu in 1957, and the Hong Kong flu in 1968. The 1918 pandemic killed an estimated 40 million to 50 million people worldwide and is considered one of the deadliest diseases in human history, according to WHO. The Science study estimates the new H1N1 virus is a  severe as the 1957 Asian flu, which caused about 2 million deaths."

"Hundreds of millions of people may catch swine flu, according to WHO."

"The three pandemics of the 20th century encircled the globe in six to nine months, even when most international travel was by ship, WHO said. A flu virus could spread more rapidly now because of air travel, reaching all continents in less than three months, the agency said."