A north Phoenix man in his 20s was reported as having the first confirmed flu case in Maricopa County on Oct. 19. Two days later, a Phoenix woman in her 90s became the county’s first death from flu-related complications. How bad will this flu season be? "It’s really difficult to make any predictions," said Arizona epidemiologist David Engelthaler.

NEW YORK - Bird flu virus found in a Vietnamese girl was resistant to the main drug that's being stockpiled in case of a pandemic, a sign that it's important to keep a second drug on hand as well, a researcher said Friday.

Arizona's flu and RSV activity is peaking earlier than usual, according to the state Department of Health Services.

Demand for flu shots jumped in the Valley on Wednesday, the day after health authorities were rocked by news of a severe shortage of the vaccine this year.

Demand for flu shots jumped in the Valley on Wednesday, the day after health authorities were rocked by news of a severe shortage of the vaccine this year.

NEW YORK - New York City has closed three schools in response to a swine flu outbreak that has left an assistant principal in critical condition and sent hundreds of kids home with flu symptoms, in a flare-up of the virus that sent shock waves through the world last month.

SAO PAULO, Brazil - In Latin America, some countries are taking draconian steps to stop bird flu before it even shows up. In recent days, five countries have banned poultry from Colombia. Then inexplicably, Colombia banned rice from Bolivia and Ecuador.

Anxiety over a particularly bad flu season gripped the East Valley and the nation Friday, as people flooded immunization clinics even as the manufacturers of the influenza vaccine announced they had run out of supplies.

MEXICO CITY - Mexico reported three new deaths from the swine flu epidemic Saturday and urged citizens not to let their guard down against a virus that has killed 19 in people in Mexico and is spreading across Asia and Europe.

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's president assumed new powers Saturday to isolate people infected with a deadly swine flu strain as authorities struggled to contain an outbreak that world health officials warned could become a global epidemic.

Hospital emergency rooms in the East Valley “exploded” with patients in the last two weeks, health officials reported.

OUR VIEW: It seems far too early to be worried about the annual flu season, which traditionally has arrived in December or January in Arizona. But this year’s emergence of the H1N1 flu virus — also known as “swine flu” — apparently will prompt us to start thinking now about protecting ourselves, our families and our co-workers. At least, public health officials hope we will, as they expect the number of flu cases to start rising again at the end of August.

An East Valley woman has become the state’s first confirmed case of influenza of the season, providing a residents with a pre-holiday reminder to get vaccinated.

MEXICO CITY - A unique strain of swine flu is the suspected killer of dozens of people in Mexico, where authorities closed schools, museums, libraries and theaters in the capital on Friday to try to contain an outbreak that has spurred concerns of a global flu epidemic.

In 2003, it was SARS. Last year, it was bird flu in birds. Now, China has confirmed its first case of bird flu in humans.

Higher-than-normal absentee rates at Higley High School on Monday, especially among band students, has caused the postponement of two events this week as a precaution, according to a district official.

Gilbert’s newest hospital will star in a movie meant to warn and educate the public about the threat of a pandemic mutating from the feared bird flu.

Gilbert’s newest hospital will star in a movie meant to warn and educate the public about the threat of a pandemic mutating from the feared bird flu.

Gilbert’s newest hospital will star in a movie meant to warn and educate the public about the threat of a pandemic mutating from the feared bird flu.

The 20th century served up plenty of nightmares, most of them man-made. But one of the worst was a perverse act of nature, and a repeat performance would terrorize the world more thoroughly than Saddam Hussein could ever hope to.

MEXICO CITY — Mexico's top medical officer voiced optimism Thursday that swine flu has slowed in the nation hardest hit by the virus, but the World Health Organization cautioned there is no evidence the worst of the global outbreak is over.

BOSTON - The federal government will install a new quarantine station at Logan International Airport to evaluate travelers who may pose a health threat to the region, officials said.

State and county health departments are warning the public to wash their hands and make sure children maintain good hygiene as the number of viral meningitis cases has increased significantly from last year.

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II had difficulty breathing as he battled the flu and will spend a few more days in the hospital, the Vatican confirmed Wednesday, but it said tests showed his heart was functioning normally and the pope had rested for several hours overnight.