Personal Injury Law

Swine Flu Comeback With School Predicted

By Jane Akre

Swine Flu 

The swine flu is expected to make a comeback with the opening of school, earlier than the flu season in October or November, federal health officials predict. The flu has been seen in summer camps even though flu season ended a few months ago.

"We expect challenges when people return to school, when kids are congregating together," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of respiratory diseases, speaking to the New York Times. 

What is still an unknown is how many doses of swine flu vaccine will be available by the start of school with several drug makers working on a version with a goal of hundreds of millions of doses.  The development of a vaccine is slowed by the fact that strains must be cultivated and grown. Also unknown is whether a booster show called an adjuvant, will be needed. 

Expect to see a swine flu campaign announce the availability when a vaccine is ready. Health care workers are strongly urged to be vaccinated first, then pregnant woman, who are also urged to receive a seasonal flu shot. 

Most serious cases appear in children and young adults.  Those individuals with compromised health and pregnant are the most likely to become fatal cases.

In June, the World Health Organization declared the swine flu (H1N1) a global pandemic after it was found to have impacted more than 70 countries with more than 70,000 cases. Almost 41,000 are in the U.S. with 263 deaths reported.  #

Full post as published by InjuryBoard on July 20, 2009 (boomark / email).