April 29, 2009 Swine flu turns deadly in U.S.; Toddler dies in Texas Play video

(NECN/ABC) - The swine flu has claimed its first life in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control confirmed Wednesday morning that a 23-month-old child in Texas is the first American fatality from this strain of influenza.

There are at least seventy other reported cases of the flu across the country.

Shortly after being sworn-in as Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius headed straight to the White House situation room.

"I expect her to hit the ground running," President Obama said.

President Obama offers condolences for family of toddler.

There, she was briefed on the swine flu that has become a public health emergency.

"It is very likely we will see more serious presentations of illness and some deaths as we go through this flu cycle," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said.

The White House is requesting $1.5 billion to fight the outbreak.

One reason there may be milder cases in the United States is that there has been earlier screening. Mexico only identified the virus after people were dying from it. Doctors said that aggressive surveillance is critical.

The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta is heading up the swine flu investigation. 200 staffers are in constant contact with health officials in 50 states and countries around

"What we're trying to do is to identify how bad, how good, the swine flu is currently operating. Is it expanding; is it contracting; is it maintaining a steady state," director Philip Navin said.

Experts will not begin working on a vaccine for at least another week and they say the earliest a vaccine would be ready is September.

ABC's Jeremy Hubbard reports.

Visit NECN's swine flu information page