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Health officer: Hundreds of Ala. swine flu deaths
Associated Press ? August 14, 2009
State health officials say they expect the swine flu virus to kill some 1,000 people in Alabama this fall and winter, triggering the need for mass vaccination clinics.
Health officials warned that the virus is also expected to cause absentee rates to hit 40 percent in schools and 20 percent in workplaces.
"We are now seeing a pandemic in real time," State Health Officer Dr. Don Williamson said during a 90-minute briefing on swine flu. "The virus has spread more rapidly around the world than any virus in history."
The federal government has estimated as many as 3,000 people could die of swine flu in Alabama, about four times the number who die in a typical flu season, but Williamson said the number will be closer to 1,000.
Williamson said a vaccine will not be available until late September at the earliest.
Children will be immunized first, followed by pregnant women, adults caring for children, health workers and adults 25 to 64 years old.
People will also need to be immunized against the normal, seasonal flu in late August. Williamson said people will then need to follow up with one or two swine flu immunizations in the fall and winter.
Williamson said of much concern is data showing 34 percent of the swine flu deaths in the U.S. occurred in obese people. Alabama has one of the nation's highest obesity rates, about 1 in 3 people.
Associated Press ? August 14, 2009
State health officials say they expect the swine flu virus to kill some 1,000 people in Alabama this fall and winter, triggering the need for mass vaccination clinics.
Health officials warned that the virus is also expected to cause absentee rates to hit 40 percent in schools and 20 percent in workplaces.
"We are now seeing a pandemic in real time," State Health Officer Dr. Don Williamson said during a 90-minute briefing on swine flu. "The virus has spread more rapidly around the world than any virus in history."
The federal government has estimated as many as 3,000 people could die of swine flu in Alabama, about four times the number who die in a typical flu season, but Williamson said the number will be closer to 1,000.
Williamson said a vaccine will not be available until late September at the earliest.
Children will be immunized first, followed by pregnant women, adults caring for children, health workers and adults 25 to 64 years old.
People will also need to be immunized against the normal, seasonal flu in late August. Williamson said people will then need to follow up with one or two swine flu immunizations in the fall and winter.
Williamson said of much concern is data showing 34 percent of the swine flu deaths in the U.S. occurred in obese people. Alabama has one of the nation's highest obesity rates, about 1 in 3 people.
