In 41 Nations More than 10,000 people are infected. What More?

The panic around the world continues for the Influenza A H1N1 pandemic. It was raised to a level five pandemic level by the World Health Organization (WHO) to alert the world and try to stop the spread. One could hear TV reports and find articles in the papers of ridicule of the WHO leader for doing so after the expected outbreak of deaths did not rise to their expectations. Well, they aren’t doing it now.

Recent school closings in New York City, Boston and now in Japan are re-invigorating the public panic and worry about this disease. A few deaths in the US have also helped re-kindle this fear. All these occurrences have brought patients in droves to hospital ERs in Japan and the US.

Outside of North America, Japan has the most reported cases—279 confirmed. A new outbreak began May 2^nd in Kobe and then Osaka with subsequent spread to Tokyo, and has set Japan on edge. Schools are closed. The Japanese, obsessed with prevention, do not understand how it all came about. They wash their hands religiously. They use the surgical masks. The zealously guarded their entry ports against infected people coming in from America. It still occurred. They have stockpiles of Tamiflu ready for use. They acted almost fanatically against a SARS case they discovered years ago. Panic still runs wild with hospitals overwhelmed by people getting checked for flu like symptoms.

The same is happening in New York. A school official died from the flu. Some are angry that the school did not close sooner or have stronger guidelines. And yet, kids go to play sports between closed school s. One parent asked why close the schools since the virus do not kill healthy people. Only those who are sick with other problems?

Well that is not the purpose of closing down schools. It is to stop people contacting and the passing on the virus. The flu strikes down young healthy people. For some unknown reason, the elderly appear to have a better immunity. The median age of the flu victim found in the ICU and on mechanical ventilation is 23 years of age.

Around the world we see over 10000 cases confirmed. It may be that some countries like Japan have higher rates because they test more often for it. They look for it and confirm it. As the test kits get delivered around the world, more cases will be confirmed. Countries should have similar rates once testing is done routinely. Forty one nations have confirmed the outbreak with Greece just joining the list.

In the US, the states of Washington, Texas, Arizona, California, Illinois and Michigan have the highest rates. Another half dozen states have high infection numbers but just below these. We have over 5700 cases now confirmed and it is seen in 44 states.

Finally, a vaccine is being developed and expected for delivery in the fall. However, difficulties are making it harder to produce so it may come later—or not at all. The hope is that the virus does not mutate to make the coming fall flu season deadlier than it normally is. Remember, some 36000 people die annually from seasonal flu.