H1N1 'no worse' than regular flu: top MD (Canada's Chief Public Health Officer)

The Ottawa Citizen ^ | November 16, 2009 | Sharon Kirkey

[fanfan]

OTTAWA — Despite the recent surge in H1N1 deaths, the nation's chief public health officer says the pandemic virus appears no deadlier than regular seasonal influenza and that there could actually be substantially fewer flu deaths than normal this season.

Although H1N1 is disproportionately infecting more children and otherwise healthy young adults, "the mortality rate from this (H1N1) is no worse than seasonal flu," Dr. David Butler-Jones said.

"The individual risk of severe disease or dying if you happen to get the flu is very similar today as it was back in June. It's just that we're starting to see a lot more people affected," he said.

Experts said the rates of serious illness and death are far from the levels predicted for a novel pandemic virus and that, based on the information available up until now, H1N1 is not on track to causing disease and death on the scope or scale of the flu pandemics of the 20th century.

[fanfan]

[fanfan]

Ping.

[VOA]

“H1N1 ‘no worse’ than regular flu: top MD (Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer)”

Funny, there was a report on Fox News (IIRC) that Canadians were
making that convenient trip to Washington State and getting their
H1N1 injections...
(this was two-three weeks ago)

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[subterfuge]

Well duh!

[Born Conservative]

Based on what we are seeing in our Pediatric Clinic, I’d say it was more mild than Seasonal Flu.

[Freddd]

And this is supposed to be new?

[Freddd]

Dr.s 2 months ago said it was a mild flu.

Only those selling books, stand to gain from the pharma industry, or promoting Obama hysteria insinuate otherwise.

[fanfan]

Did you mean “news”? It’s not like I put it in breaking.

Is it news? After all the panic that’s been shoved down our throats for the last month, yes.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Canadians were
making that convenient trip to Washington State and getting their
H1N1 injections...”

I thought I’d heard just the opposite just a day or two ago. I read somewhere, (I think) that Canada had plenty a vaccine, whereas we we short???????

[NavyCanDo]

Seasonal Influenza or the normal flu kills about 36,000 people in the U.S. As it is with H1N1 Some people, such as older people, young children, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications and face a higher chance of death. 36,000 deaths, even with plenty of vaccine to go around. The 2009 flu season is on track for being one of those normal years.

The H1N1 is being blamed for about 6000 deaths in 2009 - way behind Seasonal Influenza, and you know the story about the vaccine.

[pburgh01]

I just got over the H1NI and it's a bear. The chest tightness, the hacking cough, the headache, the fever. It's just not true that its your run of the mill flu, the symptoms and duration are different as is it's ferocity. I get a flu every year and this one was demonstrably worse, my Son had to go to the doctor twice with breathing issues and he is 9. Most people pontificating on the pig flu have not had it.

[DallasMike]

I had the swine flu and it was milder than my last bout with the flu 10 or 15 years ago. I’m not saying it was fun, and almost three weeks later I still need a lot of sleep, but it wasn’t bad.

People react to the flu differently, so just because my swine flu was fairly mild doesn’t mean that it doesn’t give others a really nasty time. My wife sent me to the doctor early and I took Tamiflu, so your mileage may vary.

[Former Proud Canadian]

It was reported in Canada today that Canada has more vaccine per capita than any other western country. Some clinics are throwing it away.

[Squawk 8888]

That’s largely due to a spike in demand here that was caused by a media feeding frenzy over a couple of deaths. On a per capita basis there are more doses of the vaccine in Canada than there are in the USA.

[mysterio]

Sorry to hear you were ill, and I’m glad you’re better.

[Clive]

VOA wrote:

"Canadians were making that convenient trip to Washington State and getting their H1N1 injections...”"

Dr. Bogus Pachysandra wrote:

"I thought I’d heard just the opposite just a day or two ago. I read somewhere, (I think) that Canada had plenty a vaccine, whereas we we short???????"

C'est vrai.

I posted an article from National Post to that effect:

Canada has more H1N1 vaccine than most countries

[neverdem]

micro ping

[Smokin' Joe]

Ping...(Thanks, neverdem!)

Also, keep up with other H1N1 update stories on this thread: H1N1 flu victim collapsed on way to hospital [Latest H1N1 updates downthread] thanks to DvdMom and others.