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This has some problems. To start with, secondary bacterial pneumonia is more typical of normal influenza, and they specify young children and the elderly-infirm which again are typical.

However, the radically different influenza for which there is little or no immunity or partial immunity, has different rules. Its primary victims are those from about age 20-45, with healthy and strong immune systems. This is because their immune system itself attacking the virus, not secondary bacteria, is what is destroying their lungs.

For these young and healthy people, it is essential that lethal Acute Respiratory Distress be prevented in the first place. And there are some very positive things that can be done right now to fend off ARD during an epidemic.

The first thing is to eliminate possible sources of Arsenic from your environment. Small amounts of Arsenic, over time, have been found to inhibit the immune system pathogen recognition system. So in the case of influenza, first the body doesn’t recognize the disease, and then it overreacts to it, causing ARD.

Fortunately, the EPA has strict limits on Arsenic in city water, so only rural wells present a drinking water - influenza risk. But 90% of the other Arsenic in our environment is used as wood preservative.

Statin drugs, normally used for high cholesterol, like Lipitor and Crestor, have been found to strongly inhibit ARD.

Thanks for the pointers; I had been under the impression that in *some percentage* of the cases of H1N1, people "recovered" from the initial viral infection, then suddenly spiraled downhill, due to secondary opportunistic lung infections.

I appreciate your taking the time to correct me courteously.

Also--if I may be so bold as to ask--do you have any further information on the role of arsenic in the CFR for H1N1? I had read of such about a month or so ago, but have found no follow-ups.

I knew about the statins, but I am not on them...

Cheers!

My dad was hit by ARD after sweeping up ashes from the fires in the Fall of 2003 in San Diego. The doctors couldn't stop it. He progressed from oxygen tent to CPAP to intubation over a 36 hour time frame. The mucous in his lungs finally jammed the tube. That wasn't discovered until his heart arrested from lack of oxygen. He was "revived" after 20 minutes of heroics, but his brain was wiped out by then. Over the next few days other organs began failing. He had a DNR request on file if he progressed to that level of failure.