• 11,181 total number of tuberculosis cases found in the U.S. in 2010
• 3.9% the decline in that number from 2009 — an already low year
• 3.6 number of cases of TB per 100,000 people — it’s almost beat source

• » Some clouds on that silver lining: While levels are at their lowest in recorded history, officials hoped to have killed TB for good in the U.S. by 2010, by having less than 1 case per 100,000 people. “The rate we have now is 36 times higher than that,” said Dr. Kenneth G. Castro, who is in charge of the CDC’s tuberculosis-defeating efforts. And certain groups — particularly minorities, AIDS sufferers and immigrants from other countries — are much more susceptible to TB. Over time, some strains of tuberculosis have gotten more resistant, too.

• 145k number of emergency visits caused by the nonmedical abuse of painkillers of 2004
• 305k number of emergency visits caused by the nonmedical abuse of painkillers in 2008
• 111% the size of the increase; the CDC says urgent action is needed to limit further abuse source

• 57M number of people that got swine flu in the U.S. since the outbreak began last April
• 257k number of people that had to be hospitalized as a result of a strong swine flu case
• 12k number of people that died as a result of getting swine flu, which isn’t really that bad

A little perspective on H1N1:

• 35,000 people usually die from the flu yearly

• » Demographic changes: H1N1 is an odd outbreak, because while it has killed far fewer people than a traditional outbreak, many of those people are younger than 65, a change from traditional influenza, which is often deadlier for the elderly.
• » Did swine flu replace the normal flu? One of the things that researchers found was that most people who they tested with flu symptoms had swine flu, not a normal strain. Which suggests that the swine flu outbreak may have neutered a normal flu season.
• » More’s still on the way: We’re still not out of the woods yet. Flu activity, whether H1N1 or traditional, is still expected for several more months. As long as we don’t have to pull Dustin Hoffman to save the day again. source

• 78 the U.S. life expectancy, according to the CDC; don’t die early source

• As we look at the data so far, we’re not seeing any sign that this is petering out. We’re still in the upswing of what we call the epidemic curve. We see ongoing transmission and we expect that to continue.
• Richard Besser • The acting director of the CDC, on the chances of swine flu … er, H1N1 … going away anytime soon. He notes that even if it seems like nothing on the individual level, its real danger lies in its scale – it could affect billions. He also notes that the number is still going up. • source

• one The swine flu virus was first isolated in 1930; this is not a new type of virus.
• two The virus transferred from pigs to humans because it mutated.
• three You can’t get swine flu from eating cooked pork or handling uncooked pork.
• four Swine flu symptoms are essentially the same as regular flu strains.
• five The last outbreak of swine flu happened in 1976. One died. source