Illinois cases of swine flu estimated at 54

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			Illinois cases of swine flu estimated at 54

			Friday, May 1, 2009 7:11 PM CDT
			THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND THE SOUTHERN

Illinois had 51 suspected and three confirmed cases of swine flu as of Friday evening.

All
of the cases reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health were
in the northern part of the state near Chicago. Two of the confirmed
cases are in Chicago, and third is in DuPage County.

More information on swine flu, including the number of state and national cases being tracked, is available at http://www.idph.state.il.us/swine_flu/index.htm

In
Evanston, Northwestern University researchers have a computer model
they say is doing a good job predicting the spread of swine flu.

Associate
Professor Dirk Brockmann leads the research group. He said Friday the
model’s predictions are holding steady, even as new information is
added.

The model predicts the Chicago area will have between 120
and 216 cases of swine flu one month from now. And it’s predicting the
entire United States will have between 1,600 and 2,000 cases by then.

The model uses travel patterns, how the flu is transmitted and recovery rates to come up with worst-case scenarios.

Graduate students continually update the model with new flu cases.

Brockmann says governments one day could use the model to better distribute medicines during epidemics.

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July Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: May 24 2006 Status: Offline Points: 1660	Post Options Post Reply Quote July Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Illinois cases of swine flu estimated at 54 Posted: May 01 2009 at 7:55pm
	Illinois cases of swine flu estimated at 54 Friday, May 1, 2009 7:11 PM CDT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND THE SOUTHERN Illinois had 51 suspected and three confirmed cases of swine flu as of Friday evening. All of the cases reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health were in the northern part of the state near Chicago. Two of the confirmed cases are in Chicago, and third is in DuPage County. More information on swine flu, including the number of state and national cases being tracked, is available at http://www.idph.state.il.us/swine_flu/index.htm In Evanston, Northwestern University researchers have a computer model they say is doing a good job predicting the spread of swine flu. Associate Professor Dirk Brockmann leads the research group. He said Friday the model’s predictions are holding steady, even as new information is added. The model predicts the Chicago area will have between 120 and 216 cases of swine flu one month from now. And it’s predicting the entire United States will have between 1,600 and 2,000 cases by then. The model uses travel patterns, how the flu is transmitted and recovery rates to come up with worst-case scenarios. Graduate students continually update the model with new flu cases. Brockmann says governments one day could use the model to better distribute medicines during epidemics.