The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issues a weekly report on the latest developments regarding the H1N1 virus, aka Swine Flu. Earlier this summer the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that H1N1 had become a pandemic, affecting populations throughout the world.
This strain of influenza is unique in a couple of ways and current areas of concern from the CDC are the effects that this flu has on the younger demographic. CDC estimates that over 1 million Americans have been sickened by swine flu, resulting in over 8,000 hospitalizations this year, and over 550 deaths. Over 40 of those deaths have been of children. These statistics were just published in the CDC's Journal of Morbidity and Mortality and reflect numbers compiled since April 2009 when swine flu was first identified within U.S. borders.
As our country prepares to enter the traditional flu season, health care officials from all levels are voicing quiet and terse concern regarding what this flu season might hold. Influenza is traditionally unpredictable, say epidemiologists. Early pre-season predictions from CDC officials calculate that over 120 million Americans will come into contact with the swine flu, and that over 90,000 could die from complications associated with H1N1 infection. That figure is more than double the deaths recorded during flu season.
As school resumes, the CDC encourages grade school educators to teach their students important skills to break the cycle of infection. Simple tactics such as frequent and effective hand-washing. Teaching youngsters to sneeze into their shirt sleeves, or the crook of their elbow, can reduce the spread of infection from contaminated hands.
Can smart handwashing and smart sneezing break a pandemic? We're going to see as this flu season unfolds.
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The predicions for colleges (especially those with dorms) are even scarier. They are estimating 40-60% of college students will contract H1N1 this year. Considering the normal strain puts a person in bed for 5-7 days this is significant. We are worried about it from an athletic standpoint... but I think an academic take on things is even scarier. Who can miss Organic Chemistry for over a week?? THIS COULD GET AWFUL.
Westminster College has put up hand washing and disinfection stations (with hand sanitizer, tissues, educational signs, etc) EVERYWHERE. Every hallway, every commons area, even educational signs in the bathroom stalls and by bathroom sinks instructing on proper handwashing, etc.
I hope it works!!!!
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