Over a million Americans affected by Swine flu virus, claim US health officials
June 26th, 2009 - 3:09 pm ICT by ANIWashington, June 26 (ANI): US health officials estimate that as many as one million Americans may now have the new H1N1 (swine) flu.
Lyn Finelli, a flu surveillance official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, voiced the estimate at a vaccine advisory meeting on Thursday in Atlanta.
The estimate is based on mathematical modeling. Nearly 28,000 US cases have been reported to the CDC, accounting for roughly half the world’s cases. The US count includes 3,065 hospitalizations and 127 deaths.
An estimated 15 million to 60 million Americans catch seasonal flu each year, CBS News reports.
The percentage of cases hospitalized has been growing, but that may be due to closer scrutiny of very sick patients. It takes about three days from the onset of symptoms to hospitalization, Finelli said, and the average hospital stay has been three days.
Other health problems have been a factor in most cases: About one in three of the hospitalized cases had asthma, 16 percent diabetes, 12 percent have immune system problems and 11 percent chronic heart disease.
The numbers again highlight how the young seem to be particularly at risk of catching the new virus. But data also show that the flu has been more dangerous to adults who catch it. (ANI)
- Swine flu hits 57 million Americans, kills 17,000 - Feb 13, 2010
- CDC confirms three new swine flu cases in Iowa - Nov 25, 2011
- Boys infect boys with swine flu: Study - Feb 01, 2011
- Air travelers 'at risk from disease-causing secondhand smoke' - Nov 27, 2010
- H1N1 pediatric deaths quadruple in US under new method - Nov 13, 2009
- `Millions of Americans are victims of attacks by partners' - Dec 15, 2011
- Regular medication can ease severe asthma attacks - Jan 03, 2012
- 55 million Americans hit by swine flu - Jan 16, 2010
- Mystery disease kills 100 in Uganda - Jan 08, 2012
- Majority hospitalised in US for swine flu had other conditions - Oct 14, 2009
- India tops in childhood flu-linked pneumonia deaths - Nov 11, 2011
- US flu deaths rise to eight, more schools closed - May 21, 2009
- Tips To Stay Healthy This Flu Season - Nov 08, 2010
- Asthmatics 'at greater risk for other diseases' - Jul 14, 2010
- Fifth US swine flu death confirmed - May 16, 2009
Tags: 60 million, cbs news, centers for disease control, centers for disease control and prevention, chronic heart disease, disease control and prevention, flu, flu virus, half the world, health officials, health problems, heart disease, hospitalization, immune system problems, lyn, mathematical modeling, new virus, one million, sick patients, swine flu
