The number of confirmed human A/H1N1 cases has risen to 642 in 41 US states, with two deaths, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services said that a woman, who died earlier this week, has been the first death of a US resident with H1N1 flu.

On April 29, the CDC said a 23-month old toddler in Texas became the first fatality from H1N1 flu in the United States. The child is a Mexican who traveled to Texas for medical treatment. He is also the first person to die of H1N1 flu outside of Mexico.

CDC officials have said they expect the H1N1 flu to spread to all 50 states, to cause severe disease and some deaths.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2009)