CDC Prepares for Swine Flu Surge in Fall

Via WebMD.com -

As the U.S. swine flu epidemic eases -- except in the Northeast -- the CDC is shifting its focus to preparing for a surge of cases when flu season returns in the fall.

The count of people who have been infected with the H1N1 swine flu continues to rise. Today's official count is 6,764 cases -- and that number should rise considerably as many state and local health departments did not report new cases over the Memorial Day holiday.

There have been 10 official U.S. swine flu deaths and two new deaths likely caused by the new flu. More than 300 people in the U.S. have been hospitalized, over half of them previously healthy young people.

While swine flu remains widespread in the Northeast, the epidemic seems to be waning in the rest of the country. Nationwide, no more people are seeing doctors for flu-like illness than is usual for this time of year -- a key indicator of flu activity.

It's too soon to say that swine flu has peaked in the U.S., Anne Schuchat, MD, the CDC's interim deputy director for science and health, said at a news conference. While hot spots of swine flu are expected to pop up across the nation throughout the summer, she said, "we are thinking that the warm summer months ahead may give us a little respite."

Accordingly, the CDC is shifting gears.

"Now we are at a transition point where we are entering an area of new focus and new priorities," Schuchat said. "We really are on a fast track for the next eight to 10 weeks to learn as much as we can ... and to strengthen our planning for the surge of illness we expect to see here in the fall."