H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Update - Schools in S.F. Bay Area Reopening, WHO: Up to 2 Billion People Could Be Infected

Here are the brief summaries about the latest H1N1 (swine flu) around San Francisco Bay Area and across the nation.

KTVU and KPIX reports on Wednesday afternoon that most Bay Area schools have been reopened, and the decisions came out after federal government said it no longer advises suspending classes for H1N1 (swine flu).

All schools that were closed for H1N1 (swine flu) have been reopened Wednesday in Santa Clara County; in Contra Costa County, five schools have also been reopened on the same day.

Tamalpias High School in Mill Valley and Berkeley's Malcolm X Elementary School have been reopened on Wednesday.

The total confirmed H1N1 (swine flu) cases in California climb to 128 as of Thursday afternoon, with 209 probable cases, according to California Department of Public Health's website.

California Department of Public Health's website also shows Marin has 4 cases of H1N1 (swine flu) reported, San Francisco has 5 cases, Contra Costa has 3 cases, Alameda has 2 cases, San Mateo has one case confirmed, Sonoma also has one case, the most cases confirmed is still Santa Clara County, with 7 cases in there.

The total probable cases of H1N1 (swine flu) in the Bay Area are now 37, according to California Department of Public Health's website.

In Sonoma County, health officials announced on Wednesday that a child may be the second likely case of H1N1 (swine flu), KPIX reports.

CBS News reports on Thursday afternoon that World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there will be up to 2 billion people get infected by the H1N1 (swine flu) virus if it becomes pandemic.

WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda said the number "wasn't a prediction", and according to the past pandemics, this virus may infect 1/3 of world's population.

Fukuda also said it is not possible to declare whether the recent outbreaks of H1N1 (swine flu) will become pandemic or not.

CBS News also reported on Wednesday morning that U.S. health officials "have moved quickly to identify the genetic characteristics of H1N1 (swine flu) virus" and "in a good position to produce a vaccine if one is needed".

Meanwhile, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website, the confirmed H1N1 (swine flu) cases in the U.S. are now 896, 2 cases of death, and 41 states are reported. The data was last updated on Thursday.

Sources:
Closed Schools To Reopen Under New Flu Guidelines, KTVU.com, May 7, 2009
Bay Area Schools Reopen Even With More Flu Cases, CBS5.com, May 7, 2009
Mexico H1N1 Death Toll Jumps Over 40; In U.S., Health Officials Say They Can Produce A Vaccine If One Is Necessary, CBS5.com, May 7, 2009
WHO: 2 Billion People Could Get Swine Flu, World Health Organization Bases Prediction On Past Pandemics, CBS5.com, May 7, 2009
Swine Flu (H1N1) Outbreak, California Department of Public Health, May 7, 2009
H1N1 Flu, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, May 7, 2009