Health officials prepare for swine flu 'pandemic'

April 25: Dr. Holly Atkinson joins NBCs Lester Holt to shed some light on the virus that has killed up to 68 people in Mexico and infected 8 in the United States.

A new swine flu strain that has killed as many as 68 people and sickened more than 1,000 across Mexico has pandemic potential, the World Health Organization chief said Saturday, and it may be too late to contain the sudden outbreak.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stepped up surveillance across the United States. "We are worried," said the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat.

We dont think we can contain the spread of this virus, said Schuchat, Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program. We are likely to find it in many other places.

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• swine
• flu
• pandemic
• epidemic
• mexico
• pig
• disease
• illness
• sick