H1N1

Minnesota officials succeeded in fighting off the term “swine flu” earlier this year, but three piglets that were displayed at the Minnesota State Fair last month have been confirmed today as the nation’s first porcine victims of the H1N1 virus.

There has been a significant uptick in the number of people across the state getting sick from influenza recently, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Because of this increase, the level of flu activity in the state is now deemed “widespread.”

Three new-flu links from Minnesota: A vaccine will take a while to produce, public-health journalist Maryn McKenna writes for the University of Minnesota. The H1N1 novel influenza probably got its start with hogs, a U of M expert told pork producers last week; even though pigs haven’t transmitted the virus to people (yet), the industry has [...]

If the anti-immigrant reactions to the outbreak of H1N1 influenza — “swine flu” — are any indication, advocates for immigration reform are going to have an uphill battle in Congress this year.

Minnesota’s one confirmed case of the new flu is sending investigators looking in “concentric circles” for other people who may have the infection, according to state Health Commissioner Dr. Sanne Magnan.

As the World Health Organization raises its pandemic alert over H1N1 (”swine flu”) from four to five, Vice President Joe Biden told “Today” show audiences today that he “wouldn’t go anywhere in confined spaces now” — including commercial planes or subways. But how bad is it? In comments to the Sydney Morning Herald, the WHO’s [...]