Sep 10 2009
H1N1 Update?
The H1N1 influenza virus, otherwise known as Swine Flu, has become quite the phenomenon this year. There has been much hoopla over the possibility that this version of the influenza virus could become the next pandemic influenza virus. Sure, many people have become ill with H1N1 and people have even died from it, but is it really any more of a threat than our typical seasonal flu?
The Center For Disease Control estimates that more than 36,000 people die in the United States each year(on average) from Seasonal Influenza. The current number of deaths due to H1N1 this year in the U.S. is 593 as of September 3. This is less than one percent of the number of estimated deaths due to our conventional influenza symptoms. The link to this information is http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/us/.
Any number of deaths due to any kind of virus isn’t something that I am fond of, but I wonder if there is a gigantic hype going on in order to sell a vaccine that hasn’t been properly tested and is being rushed into circulation. How long has the vaccine been tested? Has it truly passed the guidelines for a vaccine or is it being rammed down our throats and injected into our blood prematurely? Just some concerns…If you have additional information or comments, this is not something to be shy about!
