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Possible California swine flu tie studied

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A Chinese girl wears a face mask in Beijing April 30, 2009. A senior Chinese health official said that overseas media reports pointing to China as the source of a swine flu outbreak were aimed at tarnishing his nation's image. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver) 
Published: May 1, 2009 at 12:19 PM

SACRAMENTO, May 1 (UPI) -- Officials are reported looking into the possibility that some of the so-called swine flu believed to spread from Mexico actually came from California.

The Wall Street Journal said there is evidence that early flu victims in California during the current outbreak had no apparent link to either Mexico or pigs. In fact, observers say, some may have fallen ill before the first Mexicans did. The first California victim was reported around the end of March.

State health officials said there may be two strains involved since some cases did have definite ties with Mexico. But they said the flu virus may have been floating around the Mexico border area throughout the winter flu season, then developed into a more serious strain, the Journal said.

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