The Swine Flu Remains Active

In terms of the numbers of infectionsthat have been laboratory confirmed as H1N1, there are now more than17,800 of those in the United States, including around 1,600 that havebeen hospitalized and 44 that have died.  As we have been saying allalong, these numbers are likely an underestimate of the number of casesthat are out there.  There are some surveys that indicate that theamount of disease in the areas that are having activity with H1N1 isperhaps around 7% of the population reporting symptoms due toinfluenza-like illness.  The virus continues to impact mostly youngerpeople.  So far it is not causing significant illness and death in theelderly like we would see with seasonal influenza.  And the symptomsthat are being reported are consistent with influenza, that beingpredominantly fever, cough, some shortness of breath, fatigue andchills.  There is some vomiting and diarrhea that have been associatedwith cases of this infection.  Everyone needs to be alert to thesymptoms of the illness, and especially if you have underlyingconditions, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.  For thosefolks, they need to be vigilant about their symptoms and consult theirdoctors or health care providers early if they develop flu-likesymptoms.  All of the evidence so far indicates that antiviral drugsstill work.  The inhibitors work particularly well.  And we arerecommending that they be used in high-risk patients that are sick andalso in those being hospitalized and those that have severe illness.