WISCONSINREPORT.COM (05/03/2009) - Wisconsin has made it to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tally of so-called Swine Flu cases in the United States. The CDC shows 226 cases in the nation as of mid-morning today, including three cases in Wisconsin. The Center says the total in the official total posted includes Laboratory Confirmed Cases of the illness. There are now cases in 30 states with the largest numbers still in New York and Texas.

New York now has 63 CDC confirmed cases, with Texas second at 40 cases. Texas remains the only state that has the distinction of having the only flu death.

A 23 month old youngster died in Texas shortly after the outbreak in the United States took place. The infant reportedly came to the United States from Mexico, thought to be the place where the current flu seems to have taken hold this year.

The current Centers for Disease Control tally of H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) cases includes: 1 in Alabama, 18 in Arizona, 26 in California, 4 in Colorado, 2 in Connecticut, 10 in Delaware, 3 in Florida, 3 in Illinois, 3 in Indiana, 1 in Iowa, 2 in Kansas, 1 in Kentucky, 7 in Massachusetts, and 2 in Michigan.

The CDC figures also include 1 Swine Flu case confirmed in Minnesota, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Nebraska, 1 in Nevada, 1 in New Hampshire, 7 in New Jersey, 1 in New Mexico, 63 in New York, 3 in Ohio, 1 in Rhode Island, 15 in South Carolina, 1 in Tennessee, 40 in Texas, 1 in Utah, 3 in Virginia, and 3 in Wisconsin.

Today (May 3rd), CDC completed deployment of 25 percent of the supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to all states in the continental United States. The supplies and medicines will help states and U.S. territories respond to the outbreak. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against the novel H1N1 flu virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says response actions are aggressive, but they may vary across states and communities depending on local circumstances.

Communities, businesses, places of worship, schools and individuals can all take action to slow the spread of this outbreak.

People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. This action can avoid spreading illness further.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

Take everyday actions to stay healthy.

- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

- Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

- Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.