Experts Remain Wary about Swine Flu in 2011
by Rudolph Yap in Diseases on Jul 03, 2011
The Centers for Disease Control and prevention says that during the years 2009-2010, considered as the flu season, people were introduced to a new strain of flu named H1N1 or the swine flu. The states reported 43,771 confirmed and probable cases of the flu’s infection from April 15 of 2009 up to July 24 of 2009. From this number, 5,011 patients were hospitalized and among this number, 302 patients died.
Dr. Michael Jhung, the medical officer in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases for the Centers for Disease Control explained, “Preliminary findings suggest that this was a season not unlike influenza seasons that we see each year in the United States.”
Jhung further shared, “Flu season typically lasts from October to May with January and February being the peak months. The number of people treated for flu-like symptoms this year peaked only at 4.5%, unlike last year when it peaked earlier in the season at 7.5%.”
According to Mark Hodge, a nurse administrator in the immunization department of the Department of Health and Human Services, he explained that in general it looks like a couple of strains, each lined inside the vaccine, were predominant in the lab confirmed cases, including H1N1 and H3N5.” In Maryland, Hodge confirmed two peaks this year; one peak was in late January and the next was in late February. Hodge’s department gave fewer flu vaccines this year, but the demand was again back to normal.
Experts say that this year is going to be bad situation for the flu. Dr. Jhung and the CDC suggested some rules in order to prevent the flu; (1) get annual flu shots and practice proper hygiene, (2) always wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, (3) keep your hands away from your eyes, nose or mouth whenever you touch or hold things not sanitized, (4) when you cough or sneeze, use tissue or handkerchief, and (5) when you’re sick, just stay home.
Related Posts:
