WASHINGTON (CNN)  -- The swine flu virus that has sparked fear and precautions worldwide appears to be no more dangerous than the regular flu virus that makes its rounds each year, U.S. officials said Monday.



Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said swine flu is no more danerous than the regular flu virus.



"What the epidemiologists are seeing now with this particular strain of U.N. is that the severity of the disease, the severity of the flu -- how sick you get -- is not stronger than regular seasonal flu," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday as the worldwide number of confirmed cases of swine flu -- technically known as 2009 H1N1 virus -- topped 1,080.



The flu has been blamed for 26 deaths: 25 in Mexico and one in the United States, according to the World Health Organization.



Still, Napolitano noted, the seasonal flu results in "hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations" and roughly 35,000 fatalities each year in the United States. There are still concerns that the virus could return in the fall, in the typical flu season, as a stronger strain.



"We are cautiously optimistic that this particular strain will not be more severe than a normal seasonal flu outbreak," Napolitano said.  Watch Napolitano assess the swine flu risk »



Napolitano acknowledged claims by health officials in Mexico, the epicenter of the H1N1 outbreak, who believe their cases have peaked and said, "I have no reason to think that is inaccurate."



The WHO said there were no immediate plans to raise its alert to the highest level, Phase 6. That designation would mean "that we are seeing continued spread of the virus to countries outside of one region," Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda said.



"If you are seeing community outbreaks occur in multiple regions of the world, it really tells us if the virus has established itself and that we can expect to see disease in most countries in the world."



In the United States, the CDC on Monday reported confirmed 279 cases across 36 states -- 60 more than were confirmed the day before. Several states, including New York and Massachusetts, confirmed dozens more cases Monday that were not immediately added to the CDC tally.  See where the H1N1 virus has spread across the world »



Earlier, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said the CDC "erroneously" doubled the cases in his state. Jindal confirmed his state's total is seven, and the CDC dropped its nationwide count from 286 to 279.



Many of the cases are among children; the median age is 16, said Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the CDC. The youngest confirmed case is a 3-month-old, he said.



There are also more than 700 probable cases across 44 states, Besser said.



"This likely represents an underestimation of the total number of cases across the country," he said, because not everyone with flu-like symptoms goes to the doctor and gets tested.



The numbers are expected to increase. Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's interim deputy director for public health, said Sunday, "We believe we're just on the upswing here."



But in Mexico, where the first cases were reported, illnesses may have peaked for now.



Mexico City will reopen government offices and restaurants Wednesday, and museums, libraries and churches Thursday as officials cited improvements in the battle against swine flu.



Officials said university and secondary students can return to class Thursday while younger students will wait until May 11.



In another sign of improving conditions with the H1N1 virus, federal officials lowered the nation's health alert level Monday from red, or "high," to orange, or "elevated."



"The measures we have taken, and above all the public's reaction, have led to an improvement," Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said at a news conference.



"But I insist that the virus is still present, that we need to remain on alert, and the resumption of activities will be little by little, not all at once."



The Mexican and Chinese government sent chartered flights to each other's countries
How many confirmed cases are ther ein the US? When will Mexico City reopen restaurants? How many U.S. states have confirmed cases? Which city will open government offices? What does Janet Napolitano say? Will WHO raise the alert level to 6?
279 Wednesday, 36 Mexico swine flu is no more danerous than the regular flu virus. no
question: How many confirmed cases are ther ein the US?, answer: 279 | question: When will Mexico City reopen restaurants?, answer: Wednesday, | question: How many U.S. states have confirmed cases?, answer: 36 | question: Which city will open government offices?, answer: Mexico | question: What does Janet Napolitano say?, answer: swine flu is no more danerous than the regular flu virus. | question: Will WHO raise the alert level to 6?, answer: no