CDC: Swine flu made 57 million Americans ill

[February 15, 2010]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- Swine flu cases are down, but health officials say the disease's cumulative impact has grown to 57 million U.S. illnesses, 257,000 hospitalizations and 11,690 deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the new estimates Friday. They represent cases from the time swine flu was first identified in April through mid-January -- the first nine months of the pandemic.

The numbers represent increases of about 4 percent from the CDC's last estimates, which covered the first eight months. New swine flu cases peaked in October but declined since, and have not been widespread in any state for more than a month.

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On the Net:

CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/

[Associated Press; By MIKE STOBBE]

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