Story Published:
May 4, 2009 at 1:30 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Sep 4, 2009 at 11:05 AM CDT
SPRINGFIELD -- Only two swine flu cases are confirmed in Missouri, as of Monday morning, but there are six other probable cases. Health agency officials say four of the six are in the Kansas City area; the other two are in central Missouri.
Even though no cases are in the Ozarks, local health officials are keeping a close watch.
“We need to keep it in perspective and remember that seasonal flu kills 36,000 people in the U.S. every year. We've had one death so far related to the H1N1, so it certainly hasn't reached the level that a seasonal flu can reach, but we also want to be cautious and realize that these things do take time to unfold, so we may see cases in our community,” said Jaci McReynolds, a spokeswoman for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.
The World Health Organization may raise its pandemic alert to the highest level on Monday. That would mean a global outbreak of swine flu is underway.
Meanwhile, a school in New York City that was hit hard by the first cases of swine flu in the United States reopened on Monday. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg says everyone who was sick in his city is now on the mend.
"We can't guarantee that there will not be any more H1N1 cases, particularly in the school, but we think that very unlikely,” said Bloomberg.
The CDC agrees. Lab tests show this strain looks nothing like the 1918 virus that killed millions.
“Rates of hospitalization are not different so far than we've seen with seasonal flu and that's encouraging,” said Dr. Richard Besser of the CDC.
But it’s not the end, not even close.
"We're seeing this virus spreading across the country and we expect we'll see it very soon reported in all 50 states,” said Besser.
As of Monday, lab tests confirmed H1N1 has infected more than 200 Americans in at lease 30 states.
Now we’re getting our first look inside the pig farm in Veracruz, Mexico, where officials think the virus may have started. Tests of the pigs came up negative and the farm’s co-owner, Smithfield Foods, denies it.
"No, no not at all, there is no reason to believe that,” said Victor Ochca, Smithfield’s plant manager.
Mexico is on the mend. Officials say no deaths have occurred there in four days, so they’ve lowered the country’s alert level.
The World Health Organization said Monday that more than 1,000 cases are confirmed worldwide. It’s particularly concerned with the number of young healthy people getting sick.
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NBC Newschannel contributed to this report.
