Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Swine flu a danger for those with other ills
Sept. 10, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Newly released health data are bringing a sharper focus to who is most at risk of falling seriously ill from the H1N1 flu virus in Arizona.
The data from the Arizona Department of Health Services that show the most severe cases of the flu, those that led to hospitalization or death, occurred in people with common conditions, including asthma; diabetes; lung, heart and neurological diseases; and pregnancy.
Such conditions affect hundreds of thousands of Arizonans each year.
One high-risk condition particularly hits children hard: All six Arizona children, ages 18 and younger, who have died of swine flu had cerebral palsy, which refers to disorders that permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination.
Of all new H1N1 cases reported since late August, 70 percent were children.
State officials say the flu-surveillance report will guide them in determining who should have priority in receiving the new flu vaccine once it becomes available. But they say it should also serve as a reminder that the general population should take the illness seriously.
"We've been saying to be extra careful if you have an underlying condition, but we're finding that folks aren't connecting with that," said Will Humble, interim director of the DHS. "So, we're going to start being a lot more specific about exactly which conditions put you at (greater) risk."
The state confirmed an additional 109 new H1N1 flu cases within the past seven days, compared with 108 the previous week and 58 the week before.
However, officials say that the virus is afflicting far greater numbers of people.
As a result of the spike, Arizona is reporting to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the state has "widespread" influenza activity.
The designation essentially means flu activity is at the highest level of a five-rung scale used to monitor the virus. It occurs when at least half the regions in the state report lab-confirmed cases.
As of last Friday, only six other states - Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina - had "widespread" H1N1 flu.
New national data are expected at the end of this week.
The Arizona numbers were not unexpected. Maricopa County officials had warned that as many as one in four of the state's residents would fall ill from influenza this fall.
But typically there is little or no flu activity this time of year. The state's official fall flu season isn't scheduled to begin until the first week in October.
The state's flu data also show that the new H1N1 illness, a unique mix of human, swine and avian flu, is currently spreading fastest among elementary- and middle-school children.
More than half of the new influenza cases reported in the past two weeks were in those 5 to 14 years of age.
Add in newly reported cases in the 15- to 18-year-old population, and children account for 70 percent of all new H1N1 cases reported since late August.
As a result, the state is likely to continue recommending that children, especially those with asthma and chronic lung conditions, be among the first groups to get immunized against the virus.
There are 20,000 to 30,000 children in the state with such chronic medical conditions, Humble said.
Since the virus first emerged in late April, the state has confirmed nearly 1,350 H1N1 flu cases. Of those, 257 have been severe enough to require hospitalization; 21 people have died.
Fifteen of the deaths involved adults, one of them a pregnant woman.
The other six were children who had previously been diagnosed with cerebral palsy; some had additional medical conditions. One of those children was 4 or younger, and the others were 5 to 18.
The epidemiological data also indicate that Native Americans are at a greater risk for suffering from a more severe case of H1N1 flu. Four of the 21 fatalities have been among that population, which tends to have a disproportionately high diabetes rate.
The state anticipates the first wave of H1N1 vaccine will be available for public distribution in late October. Arizona's network of hospitals, clinics and physicians has requested 5 million doses for patients.
Arizona officials have not determined for certain who will get the shots first or how the vaccine will be distributed.
Priority groups recommended by federal officials include children, pregnant women, health-care workers and adults with certain medical conditions.
Risk factors for children
Since April, 116 Arizona children have been hospitalized with the H1N1 virus. Of those:
31 had asthma.
21 had neurological disease, including cerebral palsy.
20 had chronic lung disease.
12 had an immunosuppressive condition, including HIV infection.
Source: Arizona Department of Health Services
Risk factors for adults
More than 140 Arizona adults, defined as those older than 18, have been hospitalized with H1N1 since April. Of those:
52 had a metabolic disease, including diabetes.
36 had chronic lung disease, including bronchitis and emphysema.
36 had chronic heart or circulatory disease.
27 had an immunosuppressive condition, including HIV.
26 had asthma.
20 were pregnant.
Source: Arizona Department of Health Services
http://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/2009/09/10/20090910flu0910.html
Sept. 10, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Newly released health data are bringing a sharper focus to who is most at risk of falling seriously ill from the H1N1 flu virus in Arizona.
The data from the Arizona Department of Health Services that show the most severe cases of the flu, those that led to hospitalization or death, occurred in people with common conditions, including asthma; diabetes; lung, heart and neurological diseases; and pregnancy.
Such conditions affect hundreds of thousands of Arizonans each year.
One high-risk condition particularly hits children hard: All six Arizona children, ages 18 and younger, who have died of swine flu had cerebral palsy, which refers to disorders that permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination.
Of all new H1N1 cases reported since late August, 70 percent were children.
State officials say the flu-surveillance report will guide them in determining who should have priority in receiving the new flu vaccine once it becomes available. But they say it should also serve as a reminder that the general population should take the illness seriously.
"We've been saying to be extra careful if you have an underlying condition, but we're finding that folks aren't connecting with that," said Will Humble, interim director of the DHS. "So, we're going to start being a lot more specific about exactly which conditions put you at (greater) risk."
The state confirmed an additional 109 new H1N1 flu cases within the past seven days, compared with 108 the previous week and 58 the week before.
However, officials say that the virus is afflicting far greater numbers of people.
As a result of the spike, Arizona is reporting to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the state has "widespread" influenza activity.
The designation essentially means flu activity is at the highest level of a five-rung scale used to monitor the virus. It occurs when at least half the regions in the state report lab-confirmed cases.
As of last Friday, only six other states - Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina - had "widespread" H1N1 flu.
New national data are expected at the end of this week.
The Arizona numbers were not unexpected. Maricopa County officials had warned that as many as one in four of the state's residents would fall ill from influenza this fall.
But typically there is little or no flu activity this time of year. The state's official fall flu season isn't scheduled to begin until the first week in October.
The state's flu data also show that the new H1N1 illness, a unique mix of human, swine and avian flu, is currently spreading fastest among elementary- and middle-school children.
More than half of the new influenza cases reported in the past two weeks were in those 5 to 14 years of age.
Add in newly reported cases in the 15- to 18-year-old population, and children account for 70 percent of all new H1N1 cases reported since late August.
As a result, the state is likely to continue recommending that children, especially those with asthma and chronic lung conditions, be among the first groups to get immunized against the virus.
There are 20,000 to 30,000 children in the state with such chronic medical conditions, Humble said.
Since the virus first emerged in late April, the state has confirmed nearly 1,350 H1N1 flu cases. Of those, 257 have been severe enough to require hospitalization; 21 people have died.
Fifteen of the deaths involved adults, one of them a pregnant woman.
The other six were children who had previously been diagnosed with cerebral palsy; some had additional medical conditions. One of those children was 4 or younger, and the others were 5 to 18.
The epidemiological data also indicate that Native Americans are at a greater risk for suffering from a more severe case of H1N1 flu. Four of the 21 fatalities have been among that population, which tends to have a disproportionately high diabetes rate.
The state anticipates the first wave of H1N1 vaccine will be available for public distribution in late October. Arizona's network of hospitals, clinics and physicians has requested 5 million doses for patients.
Arizona officials have not determined for certain who will get the shots first or how the vaccine will be distributed.
Priority groups recommended by federal officials include children, pregnant women, health-care workers and adults with certain medical conditions.
Risk factors for children
Since April, 116 Arizona children have been hospitalized with the H1N1 virus. Of those:
31 had asthma.
21 had neurological disease, including cerebral palsy.
20 had chronic lung disease.
12 had an immunosuppressive condition, including HIV infection.
Source: Arizona Department of Health Services
Risk factors for adults
More than 140 Arizona adults, defined as those older than 18, have been hospitalized with H1N1 since April. Of those:
52 had a metabolic disease, including diabetes.
36 had chronic lung disease, including bronchitis and emphysema.
36 had chronic heart or circulatory disease.
27 had an immunosuppressive condition, including HIV.
26 had asthma.
20 were pregnant.
Source: Arizona Department of Health Services
http://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/2009/09/10/20090910flu0910.html