That is the part I don't get - it seems the very healthy and also the people with pre-existing health issues are at risk. I guess it's good to be somewhere in the middle.
Or, is it the type of treatment one gets and how soon you get to the Dr?
I’m not sure ....
I would like to know if the people who died from H1N1 were they given Tamiflu ? Also how long did the wait to seek medical care ? I read that Tamiflu should be taken within 48 hours of symptoms . 50% of H1N1 cases don’t have a fever so they can be tricky too ...
Cornell witnessed a surge of students experiencing flu-like symptoms over the holiday weekend, bringing the total number of students diagnosed by Gannett Health Services with probable H1N1 influenza to 291 as of last night.
Since individuals are not required to report having the flu and may choose to seek medical attention from other healthcare providers, this number only reflects those actually diagnosed at Gannett.
“We have no way of knowing how many people [in total] have H1N1 in our community of students, faculty and staff,” said Sharon Dittman, associate director of community relations at Gannett Health Services.
“H1N1 will have an impact on many individuals in our community, but also on the community as a whole. Cornell students — and the faculty and staff members who work with them — need to know that the highest number of cases of 2009 H1N1 flu have been confirmed among people five to 24 years old and [need to] prepare for the impact on our lives together,” Dittman said.
A Cornell student wishing to remain anonymous was diagnosed with probable swine flu on Sunday at Cayuga Medical Center. She suspects that she contracted the flu by drinking out of the wrong cup at a party.
“I got all the symptoms within a two-hour frame,” the student said.
Complaining of a sore throat, bad cough and fever, she sought medical attention at CMC, where an entire waiting room was devoted to patients experiencing flu-like symptoms.
“We are working closely with the CMC emergency department and convenient care center, and we refer patients who need in person assessment and/or treatment to those facilities whenever we are closed. We also send those who need a higher level of care than we are able to provide [to] our ambulatory clinic,” Dittman said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from mid-April to Aug. 30, a total of 9,079 hospitalizations and 593 deaths associated with the H1N1 virus were reported. However, the CDC discontinued individual reporting of probable cases of the 2009 H1N1 flu in late July.
The Seattle Times reported last week that Washington State University has documented over 2,000 cases of probable swine flu. Predictions suggest that 15 to 40 percent of the population may get H1N1 flu, as opposed to the seasonal flu attack rate of 5 to 20 percent.
More than half of the 165 colleges providing information to the American College Health Association reported instances of the H1N1 virus on their campus, according to the association. The ACHA reported 1,600 cases at institutions of higher education, or about 7.9 per 10,000 students, with instances highest in the Southeast and far Northwest.
As advised by the New York State Department of Health and the CDC, students are diagnosed with probable H1N1 without actual testing. A student is evaluated based on clinical assessment of symptoms, health history and knowledge about the presence of the virus in the community rather than a laboratory test.
“In New York State, only public health laboratories can perform the testing needed to confirm Novel H1N1 Influenza, and we are able to submit specimens for testing only when authorized by the Tompkins County Health Department. Testing is done primarily for epidemiological reasons and for people who are hospitalized with more severe disease,” Dittman said.
Dittman added that the CDC determined that the current quick tests for the flu, such as a nasal swab, only range in accuracy from 40 to 69 percent and may take several days before returning a positive or negative result.
http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2009/09/08/h1n1-invades-291-cornell-students-likely-infected-global-virus
Troy, Alabama
Tragedy strikes fraternity
By Holli Keaton (Contact) | Troy Messenger
Published Monday, September 7, 2009
The death of Troy University student Andrew Salter, a likely swine flu victim, was not the only hardship members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity were hit with this weekend.
According to Troy University Spokesman Andy Ellis, Salter, 18 of Valley, previously had the flu, but he was hospitalized for pneumonia. Ellis said he went into cardiac arrest in Dothan’s Southeast Alabama Medical Center, and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
For fraternity brothers and friends, Salter’s likely flu-related death, was a shock.
“I was at my grandmother’s house when I found out, and it was a big shock,” said Patrick Phelps, a freshman from Lexington, N.C. “It didn’t sink in at first. I was just talking to him last week.”
Singleton said Salter became ill in Troy a week before his death.
“The first I heard about it, we had flag football practice, and I asked where he was,” Singleton said. “I was told he was sick at home, and then the next day heard he was in the hospital.”
Kelsey Mauldin, of Troy, met Salter in an English class, and though she had only known him a few months, the two became close friends.
“We didn’t know each other very long, but he liked to listen to music. We hung out a lot, and he loved his family,” Mauldin said.
Mauldin said one of her favorite times with her friend happened just last weekend, when she drove him home after he had the flu.
“I drove him down to Atmore and met his family,” Mauldin said. “That was probably one of my favorite times.”
But just a week later, as Mauldin was driving to the Dothan hospital to see her friend, she heard the tragic news.
“I was on my way to the hospital to see him, and we were almost to Dothan when his dad told me,” Mauldin said.
Neither Mauldin nor Phelps ever imagined they would come this close to flu tragedy, especially since there have only been three prior H1N1 deaths in the state.
“I’m from North Carolina, and I hear about it on TV all the time and think I’m not even near that,” Phelps said.
“Then, I come down here and wouldn’t believe how many people in Troy have the flu. It was just a shock because you can’t believe someone you hang out with every couple of days is just gone.”
Mauldin said she was always cautious about the flu, but her friend’s death just came as a quick surprise. Mauldin tested positive for the flu herself Sunday but said she’s feeling better already.
As for Mitchell, Singleton said he is on his way to recovery in the Montgomery hospital.
http://www.troymessenger.com/news/2009/sep/07/tragedy-strikes-fraternity/
Dunbar man is W.Va.’s first swine flu fatality
September 4, 2009
http://wvgazette.com/News/200909040403
First H1N1 death in WV, a nurse, 51 years old.
The man, who was in the hospital for five or six days before he died, contracted pneumonia after coming down with the swine flu, which had weakened his immune system and made him susceptible to other infections, Gupta said.
Bloomfield worked as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington, according to the Kanawha County official who knew the deceased.
OK
H1N1 Hits OSU
KSBI News
Story Created: Aug 19, 2009 at 5:47 PM CDT
Story Updated: Aug 19, 2009 at 5:52 PM CDT
http://www.ksbitv.com/news/53735492.html
It’s the third day of classes here at OSU and students already have a lot on their minds. This semester they have one more thing to worry about, the H1N1 virus.
“That’s kind of scary considering the close proximity of all the desks,” said student Jennifer Scott.
Students are concerned after hearing the H1N1 virus is going around the campus and the rumors are also going around.
“My buddy and I were in the car and we saw a bunch of girls and he said those are the girls that have the H1N1 virus,” said student Jake Hughes.
Students have heard the virus is making it’s way through the sorority houses, but no matter where it started, officials say it’s here and they’re ready to deal with it.
“This will take 8-12 weeks to work it’s way through this community. We’re kind of on the front end. We can expect it to grow and then slow down,” said Steve Rogers, OSU Dir. of Health Services.
Rogers says the number of infected students is over twenty but he is expecting that number to increase daily for several more weeks. He says the good news is the virus seems to be mild, but he is surprised we are seeing it this early.
“August is the biggest thing odd thing as far as the symptoms and treatments that’s the same as the normal flu, the really odd thing is that’s it’s August,” said Rogers.