86 Pediatric Deaths Thus Far From Swine Flu - 50 Deaths Last Week

The CDC has reported a total of 86 pediatric deaths thus far from the H1N1 swine flu and a total of 50 deaths from the H1N1 swine flu during the past week. The number of pediatric deaths frome the swine flu in just the past two weeks exceeds the number of pediatric deaths typically experienced in an entire flu season. Some doctors are reporting the treating of as many as 40 H1N1 swine flu patients per day. At this rate, one prediction is that there will be approximately 90,000 total deaths in the U.S. from the H1N1 swine flu this winter, compared to the 36,000 deaths that occur in a normal flu season.

Shortage of Swine Flu Vaccine - More Severe Than Expected

The CDC has reported that there are significant delays in the delivery of the swine flu as the manufacturer of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine has not been able to deliver as many doses as expected. Totally, there is expected to be 10-11 million less doses of the swine flu vaccine available than had been expected by the end of this month. Also, contrary to previous indications, half of adults hospitalized for the swine flu have been otherwise healthy and have not had underlying health conditions. Medical experts report significantly more cases of influenza cases than normal for this time of year - with the number of cases similar to the peak of a typical influenza season. 99 percent of current cases of the influenza have been determined to be the H1N1 swine flu.

H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Now Available to Public

Local health departments nationwide have finally received supplies of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine from the federal govenment. In many jurisdictions, the vaccine will soon be administered to students at local schools.

How Many American Deaths Predicted From H1N1 Swine Flu Epidemic

During testimony before a Congressional committee today, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Servics was asked how serious was the current H1N1 swine flu epidemic. To answer and put the problem in perspective, she explained that there are typically 36,000 deaths per year in the U.S. from the seasonal flu. This is despite the fact that most of us have at least some immunity from the seasonal flu - and a vaccine is offered every year for the seasonal. From the seasonal flu, most deaths are among the elderly or those with immune diseases such as AIDS. As such, she explained that we should probably expect as a minimum a similar number of 36,000 deaths this year from the H1N1 swine flu. This is especially the case since the infection rate for the swine flu seems to be higher than for the seasonal flu. The difference is that with the swine flu, the vast majority of deaths are expected to be among school age children. Since the population has no prior immunity to the H1N1 swine flu, however, it is reasonable to expect that the death rate for it will be even higher than for the typical seasonal flu. Also, the H1N1 swine flu is clearly sweeping through college campuses at a time when it will be at least a month before the vaccine for it can start to be administered.

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.

593 Deaths Thus Far In United States From H1N1 Swine Flu Epidemic

The CDC reports that there have been 593 deaths thus far in the United States from the H1N1 swine flue epdemic. This is second only to Brazil which reports 657 deaths thus far from the H1N1 swine flu.

Some 2,500 Students at Washington State University Suspected to Have H1N1 Swine Flu

In what is the largeest H1N1 swine flu outbreak todate on a college campus, Washington State University reports some 2,500 students has probably having come down with the H1N1 swine flu.