Global Outbreak of Swine flu
December 2005 to January 2009
CDC receives reports of 12 cases of swine flu infection.
March
March 28
Believed to be the date of the earliest onset of the swine flu cases in the U.S., according to Dr. Nancy Cox of the CDC.
Late March
4-year-old boy contracts swine flu in Mexico.
April
April 6
Local health officials declare a health alert due to a respiratory disease outbreak in the Mexican town of La Gloria in Veracruz state.
April 13
Woman dies of swine flu in Oaxaca state, Mexico.
April 17
10-year-old boy from San Diego County and 9-year-old girl in Imperial County of California diagnosed. Both children first became sick in late March, but recovered.
April 21
Health officials alert U.S. doctors to the new strain of swine flu — a combination of swine, avian and human influenza that had not been seen before.
April 22
CDC confirms three more cases of swine flu in California and two in Texas.
The Oaxaca Health Department in Mexico indicates 16 employees at the Hospital Civil Aurelia Valdivieso have contracted respiratory disease.
April 24
In Mexico, at least 20 have died — though WHO counts 57 — and more than 900 sickened. Seven of 14 samples from Mexico test positive for the new strain. Government closes schools, museums, libraries and theaters to try to contain outbreak.
Eight people in the U.S. are confirmed to have swine flu.
Makers of Relenza and Tamiflu confirm that swine flu is susceptible to their antiviral drugs.
April 25
New York City officials report that more than 100 high-school students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens are ill with flu-like symptoms.
Confirmed U.S. cases rises to 11.
WHO calls emergency meeting of experts to consider declaring an international public health emergency. It is the first time such a panel has been called since the procedure was created two years ago.
April 26
Confirmed U.S. cases rise to 20, and a public health emergency is declared. Eight of the confirmed cases are from a New York City private school.
New Zealand, France, Israel, Brazil and Spain report suspected cases. Six cases are confirmed in Canada.
Up to 86 deaths in Mexico are suspected to be linked to swine flu. Possible cases reported in 19 of country's 32 states.
April 27
WHO raises the pandemic alert one level to phase 4, which is two steps short of declaring a full-blown pandemic.
The U.S. government confirms there are now 42 cases, with the 20 new ones from the New York City preparatory school.
In Europe, Spain confirms its first swine flu case, Scotland’s health secretary confirms two cases and 17 other cases are suspected across the continent.
The new virus is suspected in up to 149 deaths in Mexico.
April 28
Confirmed cases in the U.S. rise to 68. Seven have been hospitalized.
President Obama asks for $1.5 billion in emergency funds to fight the disease.
First cases confirmed in Middle East and Asia-Pacific region.
Number of deaths blamed on virus surpasses 150 in Mexico, though only 26 have been confirmed. Restaurants are ordered to limit service to takeout, and pool halls and gyms are closed.
Cuba becomes the first country to impose a travel ban, suspending flights to and from Mexico. Argentina follows with its own five-day ban.
April 29
The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. rises to 93. A child in Texas who was visiting from Mexico dies from swine flu.
Mexico announces it will suspend nonessential services at government offices and private businesses from May 1-5.
Pentagon confirms one Marine based in Southern California tested positive. He was placed under quarantine along with about 30 other Marines.
WHO raises pandemic level to 5.
Egypt begins slaughtering about 300,000 pigs as a precaution.
