US H1N1 virus' death toll as high as 17,000, CDC estimates

February 14, 2010

H1N1 virus' death toll as high as 17,000, CDC estimatesBy Miriam Falco, CNN

Medical NewsFebruary 12, 2010 8:26 p.m. EST

Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- The H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, may have

killed as many as 17,000 Americans, according to new estimates by the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

Though 2,498 confirmed deaths linked to the H1N1 virus had been reported to the

CDC as of January 30, the agency estimates that between 8,330 and 17,160 people

actually have died from H1N1.

The overwhelming majority of the people who died -- between 6,390 and 13,170 --

were 18 to 64 years old, the CDC estimates. Between 880 and 1,810 children 17

years old and younger also died from this flu, according to CDC estimates.

In comparison, the CDC says that in a regular flu season, about 36,000 people in

the United States die from seasonal flu, with 90 percent of the deaths usually

occurring in people age 65 and older.

Since this new flu virus emerged in April 2009, health officials have recognized

that the reported numbers of people who have been hospitalized and died provide

only a partial picture of the full outbreak. Underreporting of influenza cases

and deaths is common, especially in the early weeks or months of an outbreak.

By mid-July last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) no longer recommended

that countries with known H1N1 transmission test everybody who had flulike

symptoms, as laboratories were being overwhelmed. Patients were to be diagnosed

based on symptoms alone, since nearly all of the circulating flu strains were

H1N1.

Only severe cases of flu, which lead to hospitalization or death, were to be

tested. The CDC adopted these recommendations for the United States, also.

Despite the recommendation that deaths suspected to be from H1N1 be tested, the

CDC is aware that many are not, and in many cases H1N1 might not have been

suspected.

The new CDC estimates are based on laboratory-confirmed cases, flu surveillance

data and mathematical modeling, CDC spokesman Quartarone told CNN.

According to the report released Friday, the CDC estimates an average of 57

million people have been infected with H1N1 and an average 257,000 cases

resulted in hospitalizations.

Health officials continue to urge people who haven't received a vaccination to

do so.

" The real tragedy is that people are still getting sick and we have a vaccine

that will help prevent illness, " Quartarone said.

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