Number of confirmed US swine flu cases jumps to 68

EL PASO, Texas — Federal health officials reported Tuesday that the number of confirmed U.S. swine flu cases had jumped to 64, while state officials reported at least four more.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported "a number of hospitalizations" among the confirmed cases, which include 17 new cases in New York City, four more in Texas and three more in California.

That brings the CDC count to 45 in New York City, 10 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio.

However, state health officials in California have confirmed three other cases, and Indiana authorities have confirmed one.

The increase is not surprising. For days, CDC officials have said they expected to see more confirmed cases — and more severe illnesses. Health officials across the country have stepped up efforts to look for cases, especially among people with flu-like illness who had traveled to Mexico.

CDC officials also had warned that updates in the number of confirmed cases would at time be disjointed, as different states announce new information before the CDC's national count is updated.

A handful of schools around the country have closed over swine flu fears and some people are wearing masks, but it's mostly business as usual in the U.S., even at border crossings into Mexico.

While Asian countries deployed thermal sensors at airports to screen passengers from North America for signs of fever, there have been no extra screenings at the U.S. border with the country considered ground zero for the outbreak. Swine flu has killed over 150 people in Mexico, where schools have been canceled nationwide.

At the main pedestrian border crossing between El Paso and Mexico's Ciudad Juarez, people entering the country who said they felt unwell were questioned about their symptoms, but there were no reports of anyone refused entry.

Jorge Juarez and Miranda Carnero, both 18, crossed the border wearing bright blue masks. "It's just a precaution," said Juarez, who lives in El Paso and drew a smiley face on his mask.

Passengers from a Mexico City flight that arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey said they were surprised customs officials did nothing more than hand them an informational flier.