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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Flu season is expected every November through March, and usually peaks during February. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5 to 20 percent of the people in the United States get seasonal flu each year. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications, and about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. When the 2009 H1N1 virus was identified in April 2009, the CDC warned that these numbers could be much higher for the 2009/2010 flu season.
The 2009 H1N1 virus is genetically different from the seasonal flu virus; however, the resulting symptoms, incubation period and contagious period are generally the same. Also, the treatment for someone infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus is the same as that for someone infected with the seasonal flu virus. In fact, people who are sick with the flu would not know if they have the seasonal flu or H1N1 virus unless a medical test was conducted.
For something that seems like just another strain of flu, the H1N1 virus is causing quite a commotion. It is a “novel” virus, which means that it is a new virus that most people have never been infected with before. There is some speculation that older adults who experienced the 1968 Hong Kong flu pandemic may have some cross immunity, but that is still under review. With the possible exception of this older age group, people have not had the chance to build natural antibodies to fight this virus. This makes nearly everyone susceptible to it; thus, it can spread very quickly. Also when people get sick from a virus they have never been exposed to, their bodies have no prior experience with how to battle it, so it can become dangerous before the immune system figures out how to respond. Thus, even if it sounds like just another flu strain, the H1N1 virus should be taken seriously, especially since it is currently the most dominant influenza virus in circulation around the world.
To help slow the rapidly spreading H1N1 virus, people should follow the same advice that applies for seasonal flu, with the most important being to get vaccinated. There is a separate vaccine for seasonal flu and a new vaccine for the H1N1 virus. One vaccine will not protect against the different strains of the virus; thus, it is recommended that people get both. It is also important that people check with their physicians and insurance providers for information and guidance on getting vaccinated. Additionally, more H1N1 virus information, the latest flu updates and health care guidance can be found on the CDC’s Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
Editor’s note: Dr. Donald Lighter is WellCare Health Plan, Inc.’s Vice President for Quality Improvement. He is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Lighter currently is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Healthcare Executives, and serves on the Chief Medical Officer Committee of America’s Health Insurance Plans.
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