WISCONSINREPORT.COM (05/2/2009) - The Wisconsin Department of Health (WDH) tally of Probable Swine Flu (H1N1) Cases now has risen to at least 14, however, as of mid-morning today none of them have shown up in the official U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics. Excluding Wisconsin, the CDC how reports 160 laboratory confirmed cases of people suffering from the flu strain that is, at this time, believed to have broken out in Mexico. The CDC figures now include cases in 21 states.

CDC Tally as of 10:00 AM CT, May 2, 2009: 4 CDC Confirmed cases in Arizona, 24 in California, 2 in Colorado, 1 in Connecticut, 4 in Delaware, 2 in Florida, 3 in Illinois, 3 in Indiana, 2 in Kansas, 1 in Kentucky (a resident of Kentucky being treated in Georgia), 8 in Massachusetts, 2 in Michigan, 1 in Minnesota, 1 in Missouri, 1 case in Nevada, 7 in New Jersey, 50 in New York, 1 in Ohio, 13 in South Carolina, 28 in Texas, and 2 in Virginia. There has only been one death (in Texas) as a result of the so-called Swine Flu.

H1N1 flu (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people. The current swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

The Wisconsin Department of Health says there have been at least 14 cases of the flu in five different Wisconsin counties. The WDH says, as of 4:00 PM yesterday (May 1, 2009) there has been one probable case in Adams County, 7 in Milwaukee County, 1 in Ozaukee County, 1 in Rock County, 1 in Sheboygan County, and 3 in Waukesha County.

Meanwhile, the American Farm Bureau is concerned about the public having wrong ideas about how the so-called "Swine Flu" is spread. The organization, which refers to itself as the Voice of Agriculture, wants people to be aware that the flu strain is not spread through the consumption of pork products. They are worried about how that misconception might affect sales of pork products, and the corresponding income of farmers.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) understands that the public is concerned about news media reports on swine influenza in humans. AFBF wants to assure the public that pork is safe and will continue to be safe to eat.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made it clear that you can not get swine influenza from eating pork or products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

The AFBF says the public can be assured that the U.S. hog herd is healthy and that the American pork supply is safe. All U.S. cases reported so far were spread by human-to-human contact. The Farm Bureau is assuring the public that preliminary investigations have determined none of the U.S. citizens infected with the hybrid flu had contact with swine.

The U.S. pork industry is making every effort to ensure that the U.S. pork supply is safe, and the industry continues to monitor U.S. swine for disease symptoms, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation spokesperson.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has stockpiled approximately 50 million courses of antiviral drugs in the Strategic National Stockpile, and state stockpiles across the country include an additional 23 million more treatment courses.

Earlier this week, HHS released a total of 11 million treatment courses to help all 50 states. In addition, HHS began moving 400,000 treatment courses to Mexico to help stop the spread of the virus. The 400,000 courses represent less than 1 percent of the total American stockpile.

Shortly after taking office, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the Federal government will purchase an additional 13 million treatment courses to help fight influenza, including the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. The additional treatment courses will be added to the Strategic National Stockpile.