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AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Pray for the best but plan for the worst
While NC health officials are hoping for the best, they’re not taking any chances. Plans are in full force to prepare for a potential “worst case scenario”– a melding of the H1N1 swine flu with other seasonal flues.
There is a possibility that both strains could meet and mix their genetic material to form a new flu strain with characteristics of both swine and seasonal flue, according to Mecklenburg County Health Director Dr. Stephen Keener in an interview with Charlotte NBC affiliate WCNC.
Double whammy worry
The worry is that when the school year gets underway and the cold weather hits, both swine and seasonal flu will serve the area with a double whammy “one-two” punch.
Close to 44,000 confirmed or suspected cases of H1N1 have been reported across the country with 170 deaths. Carolinas HealthCare Systems Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roger Ray says the assumption, however, is that anywhere from 10 to 30 times more cases have actually occurred this summer and gone unreported.
Preparations underway
Pharmacies are in the process of stocking large inventories of masks, hand sanitizers and Tamiflu, which experts believe shortens the length of time that people suffer from both seasonal and H1N1 strands, and can protect others from developing symptoms if they have been exposed.
In addition, there will be two flu vaccines available this fall. The traditional “flu shot” for seasonal flu should be ready for everyone to take six months from now. A second shot will be ready by mid-October and be available for those at higher risk for contracting H1N1.
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