Officials confront first U.S. death from swine flu

WASHINGTON (AP) — A 23-month-old Texas toddler became the first confirmed swine flu death outside of Mexico as authorities around the world struggled to contain a growing global health menace that also has swept Germany onto the roster of afflicted nations.

“Even though we’ve been expecting this, it is very, very sad,” Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said today of the infant’s death. “As a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family.”