foodconsumer.org: Nearly 4000 Americans Die from H1N1

Nearly 4000 Americans Die from H1N1
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admin on 11/15/2009 15:38:00
 
By David Liu and editing by Rachel Stockton
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that the death toll
from H1N1 may be four times higher than previously estimated.
The CDC earlier estimated 1,000 deaths associated with H1N1 flu.   However,
since then the agency has been scrupulously analyzing data from each individual
state.  Additionally, they have included deaths from flu-related complications,
such as pneumonia and other bacterial infections.
Their analysis has revealed that H1N1 has infected 22 million people in the
United States; eight million of whom are children, since April.  The virus and
its complications have killed about 4,000 Americans, including 540 pediatric
deaths.
The CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat calls these numbers alarming:  "I have already seen
a larger number of deaths than we have had for several years - I do believe that
pediatric death toll from this pandemic will be extensive and much greater than
what we see with seasonal flu," she says.
Compared to other diseases, the risk of dying from H1N1 virus remains small. For
children, the death risk is 540 out of 8,000,000.  Early data indicate that the
majority of children who have died from H1N1 suffered from other underlying
health conditions; a small proportion of children who died were apparently
healthy.
Federal Health officials say that even though the risk of dying from H1N1 is
small, the number of deaths associated with flu-like illnesses and secondary
infections are higher when compared to the data collected during the same period
in past years. Also, unlike seasonal flu, H1N1 poses a higher risk of
hospitalization in children, along with a higher mortality rate among the
elderly.
At higher risk are those who have underlying medical conditions such as
diabetes, weakened immunity and chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart
disease.