Various news outlets are reporting on the first confirmed U.S. death from Swine flu.

A 23-month old child in Texas is the first recorded American fatality. So far, 150 deaths in Mexico have been credited to the H1N1 virus, which also has confirmed cases in countries as far spread as Canada, New Zeland, and Spain.

President Obama, who stated that his “thoughts and prayers” are with the family of the deceased child, is urging “congress to approve $1.5 billion in emergency funds to fight the disease.”

According to the New York Times:

The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States rose Wednesday to 66 in six states, with 45 in New York, 11 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one each in Indiana and Ohio, but cities and states suspected more. In New York, the city’s health commissioner said “many hundreds” of schoolchildren were ill at a school where some students had confirmed cases.

You can read more about Swine Flu at TakePart here and take a look at truth behind comparisons between swine flu and the spanish influenza outbreak of 1918 here. And, of course, you can watch Jon Stewart talk about it here.

takepart by reading up on the realities of Swine Flu at the Denter for Disease Control and Prevention.