First U.S. Swine Flu Death

WASHINGTON (AP) - The acting head of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says the confirmed death of a toddler in
Texas is a tragic development, but that it's too soon to say just how fast the swine flu virus is spreading.

Dr. Richard Besser said Wednesday health authorities had been anticipating that the virus would cause deaths, and said that "as
a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family."

But Besser said in a nationally broadcast network interview that it's too soon to say if the death in Texas suggests the virus is
spreading to more states. Nor would he say whether officials think it will become a nationwide problem.

Besser said on NBC's "Today" show that he didn't believe "this indicates any change in the strain of the flu."

Besser also said that "we see with any flu virus a spectrum of disease symptoms" and said authorities need to learn more about
the threat.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)