Mass. Estimates 20,000 Swine Flu Cases So Far

An estimated 20,000 Massachusetts residents have already contracted the swine flu and the number is likely to rise in coming months.

Gov. Deval Patrick said during a swine flu conference held in Worcester on Wednesday that the state has already taken steps to help curb the spread, including ordering its first vaccine shipment, set to arrive next week.

The initial number of vaccinations is small - up to 50,000 doses meant for health care workers - but additional batches should continue arriving weekly through the flu season.

Public health officials say the 20,000 number is based on the fact that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated 1 million cases in the U.S. and Massachusetts is 2 percent of the national population.

The state has stopped testing for the disease.