The New York City Health Department said that hundreds of thousands of city residents may have contracted swine flu.

Roughly 6.9 percent of the 1,006 residents surveyed by the Health Department from May 20 to 27 reported experiencing flu-like symptoms in April and May. That suggests more than 570,000 New Yorkers may have fallen ill.

Limited testing means that only a fraction of possible cases have been confirmed. New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley says the study suggests that only a small portion of the hundreds of thousands of possible cases “developed severe disease.” Tests have confirmed 820 cases in the city.

The Health Department on Wednesday also reported three more deaths from swine flu, bringing the city’s total to 12. The city said that one victim was 30 to 39 years old, another was 50 to 59 and another was over 65.

The Health Department said most of the patients hospitalized with swine flu belonged to groups that had a higher risk of severe illness or complications from influenza, including:
People who are over 65, under age 2, or pregnant
People with chronic lung problems, such as asthma or emphysema
People with chronic heart, kidney, liver or blood disorders
People with neurological disorders that can cause breathing problems
People with diabetes
People whose immune systems are weakened due to illness or medication
People under 18 years who are on long-term aspirin therapy.

(Source: CBS2 HD)