Free Republic

Children across the country being hospitalized with the 'open border flu' The rarely-seen Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), which has been sending children to emergency rooms in several mid-western states, has now made its way to the East Coast, as confirmed cases in Connecticut and New York have been reported in the last few days. Though the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has yet to make it official, several other states along the eastern seaboard are reporting outbreaks of the virus as well.

The White House is issuing a health advisory outlining "protective measures" for anyone who traveled on President Barack Obama's trip to Mexico, after a member of the U.S. delegation came down with flu-like symptoms - and tests on his family showed they're probably infected with the swine flu. The individual - an advance security staffer for Energy Secretary Steven Chu -appears to have spread the flu to his wife, son and nephew. All three have tested probable for swine flu, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. Gibbs, who did not name the security aide, said he did not work...

U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Mexico City should be aware that on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, the Mayor of Mexico City ordered the closure of all establishments where large numbers of the public gather until May 6, including restaurants, bars, discos, night clubs, cinemas, movie theaters, theaters, gyms, and convention centers. The State Department believes it is important for all citizens to maintain readiness for all possibilities in case of an emergency. Because of potential disruptions in shopping patterns, the U.S. Embassy is advising its employees to consider stockpiling two-weeks of emergency supplies such as food, water, infant formula...

CDC: 'Fully expect we will see deaths' Apr 28 02:29 PM US/Eastern By MIKE STOBBE ATLANTA (AP) - A U.S. health official said at least five people are hospitalized with swine flu in the United States and deaths are likely. "I fully expect we will see deaths from this infection," as swine flu cases are investigated, said Richard Besser, acting director of the federal Centers for Disease Control. He said he did not know about a newspaper report of two deaths in two southern California hospitals in which the victims seemed to be suffering from swine flu symptoms. "I would...

A man who shook Barack Obama's hand in Mexico died the next day from symptoms similar to those of swine flu. The White House insisted the President's health was not in any danger, but he was said to be taking the threat of an epidemic 'very seriously'. The President's health advisers were already concerned about his visit south of the border after learning the contagious virus first struck in Mexico City on April 13 - three days before Mr Obama flew in to meet government officials. Their alarm grew after learning that Felipe Solis, an archaeologist