CDC Says 76 US Children Have Died From H1N1 Flu
10 10월 2009 - 2:27AM
Dow Jones News
Federal health officials said 76 children have died from the
H1N1 flu since the virus was discovered in April, which appears to
be a higher rate than pediatric deaths caused by the seasonal
flu.
Anne Schuchat, the director of that National Center for
Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention said that, by comparison, 46 to 88 children
died each year during the past three influenza seasons.
She said she expected additional pediatric deaths from the H1N1
flu. While most of the children had underlying medical conditions,
Schuchat said 20% to 30% of them did not.
The H1N1 virus has hit children and young adults at higher rates
than older people, who are believed to have some sort of immunity
from exposure to viruses linked to past influenza pandemics. So far
most influenza illnesses are being caused by the novel H1N1 virus.
However, health officials expect seasonal influenza strains to also
start circulating more widely in the fall and winter months.
Earlier this week, the first vaccinations against H1N1 were
given with MedImmune's flu mist nasal vaccine. Health officials
said they expects shots to be available starting next week.
"We don't have enough vaccine available today for everyone who
wants one," said Schuchat. "We do believe we will have ample supply
of vaccine...in the weeks ahead."
The U.S. has purchased 95 million H1N1 vaccines and enough bulk
ingredients from five companies to make up to make a total of 251
vaccine doses if needed. The vaccines are being distributed to
states and some large cities, which in turn will distribute the
vaccines to about 90,000 health-care providers, retailers and local
health departments over a period of several weeks.
MedImmune, which is a unit of AstraZeneca PLC (AZN), makes a
mist that's delivered through the nose and is approved for
"healthy" people ages 2 to 49. It's not approved for use by
pregnant women, who have been hit hard by the H1N1 flu. Pregnant
women are being urged to get an H1N1 shot when they become
available.
Other companies including a unit of Sanofi Aventis (SNY),
Novartis AG (NVS), CSL Ltd. (CSL.AU) and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK)
are making H1N1 flu shots for the U.S. market. Last week, Sanofi
said it started shipping vaccine to the U.S. government.
-By Jennifer Corbett Dooren, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9294;
jennifer.corbett@dowjones.com