Swine flu numbers down in U.S.

Swine flu infections seem to be dropping in the U.S., but the number of children who died from the illness rose byalmost 30 in the week ending Nov. 21, according to a government report released Monday.

Widespread infections of swine flu were reported in 32 states as of Nov. 21, down from 43 states the week before, said officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC also said there were 27 new lab-confirmed swine flu deaths in childrenyounger than18 in the week ending Nov. 21, the largest one-week tally for children since the pandemic started.

The latest deaths bring the total number of swine flu-related childdeaths to about 200 although officials believe there are probably a few hundred more. Death statistics can lag behind the spread of an illness, CDC officials say.

Sincethe strain of H1N1 influenza A virus causing the current swine flupandemic was first identified in April, an estimated 22 million Americans have been made ill by it,about 98,000 have been hospitalized and 4,000 have died. It has proved to be similar to seasonal flu but a bigger threat to children and young adults.