Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 - Study Indicates For First Time Why And What People Die From H1N1 Swine Flu

A study of 1,088 people hospitalized from the H1N1 swine flu in California between August 11-23 indicates for the first time why and what people are dying from the H1N1 swine flu. In this regard, the study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, indicated that 11 percent, or 118 patients died. Nearly a third of the hospitalized patients had no underlying health conditions. What was surprising, however, was that 20 percent of all patients 50 years of age or older died from the H1N1 swine flu while only 2 percent of those patients 18 years or younger died of the H1N1 swine flu. This does not change the previously observed phenomenon that more younger people are contracting the H1N1 swine flu, indicating that potentially people 50 years or older have some limited immunity. But of those patients 50 years of age or older who have to be hospitalized from the H1N1 swine flu, for some reason they have by far the highest death rate. The study also indicated that 30 percent of all patients, or 340 patients, who were hospitalized had to be treated in intensive care. Despite the significantly higher death rates among elderly persons hospitalized from the H1N1 swine flu, the CDC has announced that it will continue to give priority to vaccinating young people because of their higher rate of contracting the virus.

63 Percent of U.S. Population Is Predicted to Become Infected With H1N1 Swine Flu

A recent study by Purdue University has predicted that 63 percent of the U.S. population will become infected with the H1N1 swine flu. Of this amount, 40 percent are predicted to become ill. This translates into an estimated 25 percent of the U.S. population who are predicted to become ill with the H1N1 swine flu. Already, the number of people sick with the H1N1 swine flu is greater than the normal peak for a typical flu season. This is despite that the normal peak for flu cases for a normal season is in January, and it is only October and we already have a greater number of H1N1 swine flu cases than during the peak of a typical flu season. This has caught health officials by surprise as they had not expected this many cases of the H1N1 swine flu this early in the flu season. Also of concern is the fact that there are currently available significantly less amounts of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine than had been expected to be available. As a result, some health officials are predicting that there could be as many as 90,000 deaths in the U.S. from the H1N1 swine flu. This contrasts with a normal flu season where there are typically 36,000 deaths in the U.S. from the flu. Also of concern is the fact that most deaths from the normal strain of flu are among the elderly. With the current epidemic of the H1N1 swine flu, however, the greatest number of hospitalizations and deaths have been among school-aged children and pregnant women. For this reason, the young, pregnant women and all other individuals at high risk for the H1N1 swine flu are urged to get vaccinated as soon as supplies of the vaccination become available. For some reason as yet to be understood, some regions of the country are being particularly hit hard with the H1N1 swine flu pandemic and are having to close schools because of the high rate of illness. Only a hundred miles away, however, another city might be only experiencing mild rates of illness. Also, some school systems and local health agencies have already vaccinated a large number of people while other school systems and local health agencies had not planned on ordering a significant amount of vaccinations this early in the flu season. As a consequence, the severity of the H1N1 swine flu is expected to continue to vary significantly from one area to another. Increasingly, however, more and more people know someone who has been sick with the swine flu - or have become sick themselves. As an example, AOL's reporter for the H1N1 swine flu recently reported that he and his children have all come down with the H1N1 swine flu while it is believed that his wife had been sick with the H1N1 swine flu. As another example, my mother who is a nurse as a co-worker who had a child that had to be hospitalized with what is believed to have been the H1N1 swine flu. One really begins to appreciate how many people are ill with the H1N1 swine flu when one goes to a hospital or one's doctor's office and one sees all the individuals there ill with the flu - and one is told first-hand stories of how many sick people the doctors and hospitals are currently treating with the H1N1 flu. Some doctors are reporting seeing as many as 40 or more patients a day ill with the flu.

First Congressman Comes Down With H1N1 Swine Flu

Mr. Greg Walden, a congressman from Oregon, has announced through representatives that he has contracted the H1N1 swine flu. Mr. Walden is the first congressman to contract the H1N1 swine flu.

CDC States That Extent of Flu This Early In Season Is Unprecedented

During an interview on C-Span3 today, Dr. Beth Bell, Deputy Chief Health Officer for the H1N1 flu for the CDC stated that the amount of H1N1 swine flu being experienced this early in the flu season is unprecedented. Typically, this early in the flu season one does not see the amount of flu cases currently being experienced. Almost all of the flu cases thus far experienced have been of the H1N1 swine flu variety. Meanwhile, during congressional testimony yesterday, the CDC indicated that there are significant shortages of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine as production has lagged behind what was the hoped for amount to be available by now.

Potential for Hospitals to Be Overwhelmed by Swine Flu Patients

During a typical flu season, approximately 200,000 Americans are hospitalized for treatment of the flu. As we enter this year's flu season, however, the White House has predicted that as many as 1.8 million Americans might be hospitalized during the peak of the swine flu outbreak this fall and winter. Of this 1.8 million, as many as 300,000 Americans might require intensive care for treatment of the H1N1 swine flu. If this scenario occurs, it is predicted that this would overwhelm and swamp the capacity of U.S. hospitals, using up 100 percent of hospital bed capacity. Health officials are currently looking at contingencies to deal with this potential severe shortage of hospital bed capacity. Of concern is the fact that the H1N1 swine flu is predicted to affect - and in fact is already affecting - a much greater portion of the population than that which is normally afflicted with the typical seasonal flu. On the positive side, Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, reported that just today the FDA approved the vaccine for the H1N1 swine flu, allowing the government to proceed forward with its manufacturer and distribution. The vaccine is expected to be available in mid-October and potentially 7 to 10 days earlier for those individuals at the highest risk for the H1N1 swine flu. Distribution of the swine flu vaccine will be determined by plans developed by each of the state health departments.

Many Colleges Reporting Swine Flu

According to the Washington Post, more than half of the nation's colleges and universities are reporting cases of the H1N1 swine flu. In the first week of classes alone, more than 1,600 cases of the H1N1 swine flu have been reported on the nation's college and university campuses.

CDC Has Now Confirmed 279 Cases of Swine Flu in 36 States

The CDC has reported that there are now 279 cases of swine flu in 36 cases. Meanwhile, the WHO has moved its pandemic alert to level 6. New York now has 73 confirmed cases, Texas 41, California 30, Delaware 20, Arizona 17, and South Carolina 15 - with these being the states with the most confirmed cases. Idaho has joined the list of states reporting confirmed cases. More schools have closed because of the swine flu, while other schools have remained open despite confirmed cases. As an example, George Washngton University in Washington, D.C. now has 4 students with confirmed cases of the swine flu, yet has remained open. Many schools are reluctant to close because of AP exams and state standard of learning tests that are given at this time of year. It continues to almost be impossible to find face masks in drug stores. The good news is that there is still only one reported death in the United States from the swine flu. The bad news is that, just as in Mexico, the swine flu seems to hit healthy young teens and young adults the hardest. This is similar to the 1918 flu pandemic. What worries health officials is that in the U.S., the swine flu will potentially come back in the fall and cause the most deaths. This is the pattern that the 1918 flu outbreak took. Also, the swine flu is attacking at a time which is not normally the flu season. Finally, of concern is the lack of a vaccine to protect people from the outbreak. This is of concern because, even with a normal flu season where many people are protected by a vaccine, there are still typically 200,000 plus hospitalizations and approximately 35,000 deaths. People that have not had the flu often under-estimate how significant of a disease it is, thinking it is like a cold or a 24 hour stomach virus. But the full-blown flu can be a devastating illness for many people and even the normal flu is a significant cause of deaths in the U.S. every year.

Swine Flu Now In Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia, Arizona, Illinois, Delaware, Florida, Wash. DC

The CDC now reports confirmed cases of the swine flu in Minnesota, Nebraska, Kentucky, Virginia, Massachusetts, Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia. This is in addition to previously reported cases in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, California. In total, the swine flu has now been confirmed in 19 states with 141 confirmed cases. The CDC also provided today interim guidance on school closings. The federal government has also released antiviral medicines from its strategic national stockpile to all 50 states to treat patients with swine flu. Also, a plane heading to Washington, DC from Germany was diverted to Boston when a patient became ill with what might be the swine flu. Internationally, China has reported its first case of the swine flu. Confirmed cases continue to rise around the world, particularly in Canada and in Europe where people have travelled to Mexico. Debate continues about whether the border should be closed or travel restrictions imposed for people traveling between the U.S. and Mexico. After it was announced that two students at George Washington University in the District of Columbia have come down with the swine flu, nearby Georgetown University announced that it has established a special dorm where students with the swine flu who are not so ill as to require hospitalization can be taken.

Swine Flu Now Reported in Virginia, Rockville MD, and at George Washington Univ. in Wash, DC

Two swine flu cases have now been reported in Virginia. Also, two students at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. have come down with the swine flu. Finally, Rockville High School in Montgomery County, Maryland was closed today because a case of swine flu.

NBC's Latest Update School Closings Because of H1N1 Swine Flu in the U.S.

At 7:10 pm Thursday evening NBC News has reported that there are now 130 confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu in 18 states in the U.S. and 11 countries overseas, and that 300 schools in 11 states across the country are closed as a precaution because of the swine flu -- keeping between 172,000 and 250,000 children home.

Wash, DC Employee of World Bank Identifed As Having Swine Flu

A Washington, DC office worker who is employed at the World Bank has been identified as having recently recovered from the swine flu. The World Bank has asked the employee to work from home pending additional advice from health officials.

Energy Dept. Staffer Who Accompanied Obama to Mexico Has Developed the Swine Flu

The White House has announced that an Energy Department staffer who accompanied President Obama to Mexico along with three of his family members have come down with the swine flu.

World Health Organization Has Changed Its Pandemic Alert to Level V

Margaret Chan, the Director General of the World Health Organization, has raised its pandemic health alert to Level V (out of a scale from 1 to 6). She said that it is time for the drug companies and business to immediately take steps adjust to the inevitable world-wide swine flu epidemic. At the same time, Switzerland joined the list of countries reporting swine flu cases - stating that 29 swine flu cases have been confirmed in Switzerland.

Will the College Board Cancel SAT Tests Because of Swine Flu?

The College Board has announced the cancellation of SAT tests at a large number of locations. It is not clear whether this is because of concern about the swine flu or for other reasons.

Parents Debating Whether to Send Students to School Because of Swine Flu

Despite the closing of all schools in Mexico and President Obama recommending that schools be closed where a student has been identified as having the swine flu, the Governor of Maryland has said that all schools in Maryland will remain open. This is despite the fact that Maryland's Governor has acknowledged six probable cases of the swine flu in Maryland, including two students in two different schools. School officials have said that they have disinfected the schools, but parents are already protesting that if there is one infected student in a school, then there are likely other students that have been exposed and have yet to come down with the more severe symptoms. Also, the University of Delaware has reported several probable cases of the swine flu. University officials, however, have said that all they are doing is setting up a voluntary screening unit in the gym. The question is whether the current outbreak of the swine flu is more severe than normal strains of the flu? On average, the CDC has stated that there are approximately 35,000 deaths nationwide annually from normal strains of the flu. Most deaths occur among the young, the elderly, and those with impaired immune or respiratory systems. In Mexico, however, the recent swine flu outbreak has followed the pattern of the 1918 flu pandemic in causing more deaths among healthy young adults. Health officials have stated that there is no clear pattern established yet in the U.S., but that the swine flu virus infecting individuals in the U.S. is the same virus that has caused the swine flu deaths in Mexico. All of this has parents concerned about sending students to school. Also, there is the question whether the current approach of not closing schools in the U.S. is fair to students that have respiratory problems such as asthma? While most students infected with swine flu will recover, is it proper public health policy to knowingly expose students with asthma and other respiratory problems to potential swine flu infection - until we know more about how lethal the current outbreak and virus are? What we do know is that the current outbreak has caused over 150 deaths thus far in Mexico and is rapidly spreading throughout the world in just a short period of time.

President Obama Has Recommended Closing of Schools Because of Swine Flu

During a speech on Wednesday night, President Obama recommended the closing of schools in the United States in cases where a student has been identified as having the swine flu in order to help present the spread of the swine flu outbreak. At the same time, the World Health Organization has announced that it is considering raising its pandemic alert level.

Six Probable Cases of the Swine Flu Reported in Washington and Baltimore Region

While not yet confirmed by the CDC, the Washington Post has reported six probable cases of the swine flu in the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area. All are in Maryland. A student in Folger McKinsey elementary school in Severna Park, Maryland is one of the reported cases. According to Maryland Governor O'Malley, the six probable cases of swine flu in Maryland include the student in Severna Park and two family members, and a high school student and two other people in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Latest Information From CDC About Swine Flu Outbreak

To obtain the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control about the swine flu outbreak, see http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu

Cases of the Swine Flu Have Now Been Reported In New Jersey and South Carolina

Swine flu cases have now also been reported in New Jersey (has five reported cases) and in South Carolina, where an entire high school has had to be shut down. Totally, eight states have now reported cases of the swine flu. Of concern is the fact that many students are still in the processing of returning fro Spring Break in Mexico. In the U.S. patients are being treated wit Tamaflu, but Mexico has run out of its supply. Mexico has run out of masks that can help prevent the spread of this respiratory illness. This has caused a panic in Mexico, where all sports and other social events are being cancelled. Meanwhile, around the world, many airports have installed heat detectors to screen passengers to try to screen passengers that might be running a flu. Thus far, the estimated mortality rate for this swine flu rate appears to be between 6-8 percent. This compares to a 1-2 percent mortality rate for the 1918 worldwide flu epidemic. Even though the 1918 epidemic had a lower mortality rate, it nevertheless killed over 100 million people worldwide - more than all the people killed from World War I,

World Health Organization has issued a Level 4 alert because of swine flu outbreak

The World Health Organization has issued a Level 4 alert (just one level below a world-wide pandemic alert) as world-wide health officials attempt to determine how to deal with the health emergency caused by the swine flu outbreak in North America. In addition to the U.S. and Mexico, Canadian officials now also report cases of the swine flu in Canada. Already, the European Union has recommended the cancelling of all non-essential travel to the U.S. and Mexico has one case of the swine flu has been reported in Spain and two in Scotland, all from individuals who had travelled to Mexico. Officials in Russia, Hong Kong and elsewhere are also discussing restricting travel to North America and/or quarantining individuals who show any potential symptoms.