The Reach of H1N1 Swine Flu Spreads Daily
On November 4th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on H1N1 swine flu statistics in the US current through October 24th, week 42.
H1N1 Swine Flu vs. Regular Seasonal Flu
During the week of October 18-24, there were 19,642 specimens tested for influenza virus. Of those, 8,268 (42.1 percent) tested positive for some variety of flu virus. 21 specimens were influenza B, with the remaining 8,247 being influenza A. 5,453 of those cases were confirmed as H1N1 swine flu; the remainder either were not subtyped, or the sub typing was unsuccessful. Not one single specimen successfully subtyped showed either of the normal seasonal flu subtypes (H1 and H3).
What is the Current Spread of H1N1?
Forty-eight states reported geographically widespread influenza activity, Guam and two states reported regional influenza activity, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico reported local influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.
Region 3 (DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV) and Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) reported the greatest percentage of cases that tested positive for flu. Region 3 also had, by far, the greatest number of confirmed H1N1 swine flu cases.
Other Important H1N1 Swine Flu Statistics in the Update
- There were 22 pediatric deaths associated with an influenza virus during the week in question, 19 of which were confirmed H1N1 swine flu, and three whose subtype was undetermined. The child deaths were located in Arizona [3], Florida, Georgia, Guam, Montana, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee [2], Texas [9], Washington, and Wisconsin. This brings the total flu-related deaths in children since August 30th to 74, and 114 overall with the H1N1 virus. In contrast, there was only one influenza-related pediatric death in the same week last year.
- The percentage of deaths associated with P&I (pneumonia and influenza) was above epidemic levels. For the week in question, the epidemic level is considered to be 6.6 percent of all deaths; it was at 7.1 percent.
- All areas reporting had levels of ILI (influenza-like illness) above the baseline for this time of year. the national baseline for the week in question is 2.3 percent; but the week's figures were right at 8 percent.
Updates:
Week 43 (October 25-31) Update
photo by Eneas De Troya
Related Articles:
- Severe H1N1 Swine Flu symptoms progression and risk factors - summary of the findings of a WHO compendium on severe swine flu cases
- Younger people and children more vulnerable to H1N1 Swine Flu than expected - figures from the CDC as of the middle of October indicating the disproportionate number of children affected by swine flu symptoms
- Do I have H1N1 Swine Flu symptoms? New website may help answer - Emory University School of Medicine's self-diagnosis website helps answer swine flu symptom questions
- H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic officially declared national emergency - outlines some of the reasons, and results, of President Obama declaring the H1N1 pandemic a national emergency
- What to do if you have H1N1 Swine Flu symptoms - simple advice for those suffering from (non-severe) H1N1 symptoms
For more on natural antivirals and ways to prevent and treat Swine Flu symptoms, be sure to read:
- Natural Ways to Prevent Swine Flu
- Natural Treatment for H1N1 Swine Flu Symptoms
- Natural ways to boost immune system health, for a broad look at natural ways to increase immunity
- Top Ten Overall Immune System Booster Foods, looking more specifically at immunity builders in the diet
- Natural Antiviral Alternatives for an overview of foods, herbs, and essential oils that have natural antiviral properties
For a touch of humor, be sure to check out these great I Survived the Swine Flu Panic t-shirts and more.
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