H1N1- what's the big deal?

**p3375** · 01-26-2010 01:47 PM

Wow! Great posts! Guess I shouldn't be surprised to find the folks posting here are well ahead of the curve re: info on H1N1

I've been involved w/ response, prevention and vaccination programs on this bug from the beginning. Most of the comments above are 'spot on'.

If I could add a few things:
1) your right, lethality and (very importantly) virulence of this flu are generally low. For instance, CDC stats show that an unvaccinated person caring for, and living in the same household with someone w/ H1 has only a 17% chance of getting it. That's wayyy lower than regular seasonal flu. The #'s of deaths, while tragic - also way lower than seasonal. However, 'regular flu' mostly kills old, very young and those w/ weak immune systems. H1 is harder on young adults, those w/ asthema and pregnant women.

2) Tho H1 hits less hard, it is a 'Pandemic' This isn't terrible in itself, as the definition of pandemic is just a world wide incidence of disease above normal expectations. So, since it's a new strain, if you had just 1 case on each contenent, you would technically have a pandemic.

3) MOST IMPORTANTLY - The H1 is no big threat ONLY because of the attributes of the virus. It truely had the pants scared off of health officials all over the world because we didn't know what it would turn out to be. If it had had high rates of infectivity (virulance) and/ or high letheality, we would have been in very bad shape. Yeah, the vaccine is effective (I took mine as soon as I could get it) BUT producing vaccines is a biological process that can not be sped up much, no matter what we do.

P

**Todolist** · 01-26-2010 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Hopeless Dork

I had a whats the big deal idea about h1n1 too until recently when a family member died from complications after being diagnosed with it. I've been walking around feeling like everyone is panicked for nothing, but must admit this tragedy has me realizing that its not just your average cold and flu.

Very sorry to hear this.

Originally Posted by P3375

1) your right, lethality and (very importantly) virulence of this flu are generally low. For instance, CDC stats show that an unvaccinated person caring for, and living in the same household with someone w/ H1 has only a 17% chance of getting it. That's wayyy lower than regular seasonal flu. The #'s of deaths, while tragic - also way lower than seasonal. However, 'regular flu' mostly kills old, very young and those w/ weak immune systems. H1 is harder on young adults, those w/ asthema and pregnant women.

It isn't the same as the standard flu of course, but like you say more people die from standard. I think if people did try more preventative methodology like increased use of antibacterials, both types of flu will be on the downslide.

**PJhavinfunagain** · 01-26-2010 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Hopeless Dork

I had a whats the big deal idea about h1n1 too until recently when a family member died from complications after being diagnosed with it. I've been walking around feeling like everyone is panicked for nothing, but must admit this tragedy has me realizing that its not just your average cold and flu.

So sorry for your loss!

I have 2 friends who have lost family members. 1 was a generally healthy person, the other did have a compromised immune system. It has been devastating to these families. I know 1 other family that did not loose their son but he was in the hospital for months. They do not know how long it will take for him to fully recover.

**ItsASecret** · 01-26-2010 03:24 PM

I think if people did try more preventative methodology like increased use of antibacterials, both types of flu will be on the downslide.

Antibacterials are not as effective as people think they are. They operate under broad spectrum so they eliminate everything they come into contact with including the "good" bacteria that are on our bodies. The best thing to do is use common sense, if you sneeze do it away from others and cover using your arm/sleeve and not your hands, wash with soap and water and not just water, if you are sick stay home.