Is US flu worse than usual?

[Guest guest]

" At least 40 per cent of the children who died had other medical conditions

that made them vulnerable, such as asthma or cerebral palsy "

" Five of the previously healthy children who died had invasive bacterial

infections, including three caused by Staphylococcus aureus, one of the new

" superbugs " that resist standard antibiotics. "

http://www.vaccinationnews.com/today's_top_stories/2003/Dec/22.htm

Sandy Mintz

Is US flu worse than usual?

10.05AM, 20 Dec 2003

US health officials are investigating a winter flu epidemic which has

struck earlier than usual and has killed dozens of children.

With influenza reported in all 50 states and widespread in 36, the virus

has now reached its usual annual epidemic levels.

Dr Gerberding, director of the US Centres for Disease Control and

Prevention, said: " I think what we are experiencing here is a typical

pattern of influenza with an early onset. "

In an average year, influenza kills 36,000 Americans and puts 114,000 in

hospital. In a bad year, the numbers can be far higher.

Dr Gerberding stressed that because the flu affects up to 20 per cent of

all Americans and is not a disease doctors usually report to the federal

government.

That means it is difficult to collect precise information. Most patients

will have just an annoying illness, she said.

Public attention has focused on this year's epidemic for several reasons.

Influenza hit the United States early and killed several children early on.

Dr Gerberding said at least 42 children have died of flu so far this year.

" Obviously this is very sobering and very worrying to us. We are

investigating the nature of the illness among children. "

She said at least 40 per cent of the children who died had other medical

conditions that made them vulnerable, such as asthma or cerebral palsy.

Five of the previously healthy children who died had invasive bacterial

infections, including three caused by Staphylococcus aureus, one of the new

" superbugs " that resist standard antibiotics.

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Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Classical Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

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