AP Photo/The Post and Courier, Alan Hawes
Centers for Disease Control / public domain
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have confirmed what public health officials have been saying for some time. The Swine Flu, pandemic H1N1, is unusually deadly for young people in the United States.
In a press briefing from the CDC on October 20, 2009, Dr. Ann Schuchat revealed the data from September 1 through October 10. With 27 states reporting a total of 4,958 hospitalizations related to Swine Flu, 53% of the patients were under age 24 and 92% were under age 65. With seasonal flu, 60% of the hospitalizations are in patients over the age of 65.
Centers for Disease Control / public domain
28 states have reported a total of 292 laboratory confirmed deaths related to pandemic H1N1. 24% of the deaths are in young people under the age of 24. 88% of the deaths are in patients under age 65. This is in contrast to the deaths from seasonal flu, where 90% of the deaths are in patients age 65 and older.
When asked about underlying conditions adding to the risks from Swine Flu, Dr. Schuchat said “Well, pregnancy, as we've been seeing is disproportionately represented. Completely healthy women are coming down with horrible, horrible illnesses. “ She also mentioned that children with pre-exisitng neurological conditions such as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy are being seen with complications from Swine Flu. Children with asthma, even well controlled asthma, are also at greater risk of complications.
The latest report from Massachusetts has similar data. With 1,416 Swine Flu cases since April 2009, almost 73% of the cases are age 25 or under. 48% of the cases are in children of school age, 5-18. 46% of the patients hospitalized for pandemic flu were under age 25. 3 of the 12 related deaths were ages 25 and under.
In Arizona, they have recorded 2,798 cases of Swine Flu since April. 62% of the cases are age 18 or younger. The median age for patients is 15, meaning that half of all the patients were under age 15. 8 0f the 39 related deaths were age 18 or younger.
The CDC has information about people at higher risk for flu-related complications. The CDC continues to urge that people in risk categories be vaccinated for both the seasonal flu and for the Swine Flu.
Comments
“Have Luke’s ICU doctors considered obtaining peramivir (an intravenous antiviral) under an E IND from the FDA? The two readily available antivirals are Tamiflu (which is available only as an oral) and Relenza (which is inhaled). Inhaled Relenza is often not a good choice for ICU patients because they have difficulty breathing. Tamiflu has two issues, the first is that some strains of H1N1 have developed resistance, and the second (more important) issue is that there may be difficulty in getting the patient to ingest sufficient quantities to address the infection rapidly. Severe bacterial infections are addressed with intravenous antibiotics, and the same should be the case with severe viral infections, but there is only one antiviral available for intravenous administration: peramivir. However, peramivir has only completed Phase II clinical trials in the US, but it has completed Phase III’s in Japan. The saftey and efficacy results from all of these trials is pretty compelling so far.
So, where is Obama's surgeon general? Fat camp until she's fit for public consumption?
"Swine flu has taken me overboard. As my daughter has the fever and my son's teacher's neice has the swine flu, I notice that it is suffering more people than ever. Over break, my best friend, Paula's, uncle died of the horrible illness.
"Wash your hands, for heavens sake and keep your cough under your arm! I will do this; and it will make a difference."
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