Discussion: The Novel H1N1 disproportionately targets the young and healthy.

[marcovth]

When was the last major H1N1 outbreak?

If you are 40+ y/o, is there any chance you were once infected by any of the H1N1 strains?

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Discussion: The Novel H1N1 disproportionately targets the young and healthy.

This novel H1N1 is very different than the H1N1 of the 70s and after looking at it, I'd say that also true for the 1940-1956 range also.

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[marcovth]

Re: Discussion: The Novel H1N1 disproportionately targets the young and healthy.

Will there be any partial protection from prior infections with previous strains?

Wasn't there a study which showed positive (I assume elisa) antibody tests with of blood of elderly people?

Edit: I am looking for an explanation why the virus would hits younger people harder?
Other than a higher chance of cytokine storm in healthy people, partial protection is the only explanation that makes sense to me at the moment.

 

[St Michael]

Re: Discussion: The Novel H1N1 disproportionately targets the young and healthy.

There is another current thread that might answer your question:

Seniors coping better with flu
Last updated 05:00 21/07/2009

Early evidence suggests people over 60 who were exposed to the 1957 flu epidemic may have some protection against the swine flu.

Clinical virologist for Canterbury Health Dr Lance Jennings said yesterday epidemiology evidence suggested those over 60 were not being affected by the H1N1 virus to the same extent as the younger generation.

"Where people have been exposed to the flu virus of 1957 and before, they appear to have some protection," Dr Jennings said.

There had been no scientific evidence to prove protection until a public report released last week by the United States University of Wisconsin's Nature report, which investigated neutralising antibodies to the swine flu virus.

The report found that people born in 1920, before the start of the major flu pandemic, had some protection to the H1N1 virus, Dr Jennings said.

Those born in 1920 or who were exposed to the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918, were found to have some residual neutralising antibodies to swine flu.

"The epidemiological suggestion is that people over 60 have some form of natural protection (to swine flu) but we can't call it immunity," Dr Jennings said.

By far the "greatest burden" of swine flu so far had fallen on under-19s.

However, the older generation should not be complacent.

"We've seen different phases of this epidemic and we may well see it starting to infect other sub-groups and older people we're possibly only halfway through this epidemic, with another six weeks to go, and older people should still be very careful," Dr Jennings said.

Typically, people took a week to recover and should wait at least 24 hours before attempting normal activities, including exercise, or they could relapse.

With schools reopening this week after the second-term holiday, the Health Ministry was concerned the virus could become rampant.

"Schools are always a mixing vessel for respiratory viruses and their transmission we may see increasing absenteeism rates as children take it home and parents become exposed as well," Dr Jennings said.

He also warned that a measles outbreak was on its way south with 50 confirmed cases in Canterbury, and parents should not confuse some of the similar symptoms of swine flu with measles. Both could present with a fever, runny nose and conjunctivitis.

Nationally, only about 82 per cent of the population had immunity to measles, which was not good enough to protect against an outbreak, Dr Jennings said.

Many Christchurch families had just been south for skiing holidays in Queenstown and Wanaka, so parents and pregnant women should beware.

Young children with measles could be susceptible to pneumonia, and anyone exposed to measles could still be vaccinated for up to 72 hours, he said.

Meanwhile, Otago Southland medical officer of health Dr Derek Bell said medical centres were coping with the swine flu out-break.

"We're seeing a heavy age bias the picture we're seeing is children aged through to those in their early 20s."

Nationally, more than 80 per cent of those contracting swine flu were aged under 50, Dr Bell said.

- By SUE FEA/Southland Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/2611362/Seniors-coping-better-with-flu

 

[madisonmaus]

Re: Discussion: The Novel H1N1 disproportionately targets the young and healthy.

Is there any way to be tested to see if one has already been exposed/developed antibodies?

 

[liam]

Re: Discussion: The Novel H1N1 disproportionately targets the young and healthy.

I will not speak to the medical aspects but this bit from an article got me thinking.

For instance, they found that our skin probably holds as varied a range of bacteria as our guts, which houses from 500 to 1,000 species of germs, and that there are vast differences across the skin, with the forearm being the most prolific site (44 species on average)
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=151852

In my mid 50's this was news to me, though on reflection it almost seems common sense. Our forearms are exposed to most of what our hands are and we do not wash them. I have since become aware of how often my forearm comes to my face in an effort to avoid using my 'dirty' hands.

As to age difference there are a great many habits and lifestyle differences among young and old. Children are more likely to be in close contact with folks who are sick with something they have no immunity to because children are folks who get sick with something they have no immunity to.

Older people have greater 'social distance' in their contacts than younger people and children.

Habits of hygiene that come with age and maturity are less apparent with younger people.

While this may not contribute to knowing why younger people do get sick disproportionately, it may help understand why some of them do not.
Liam