UPDATE: CDC: 76 US Children Have Died From H1N1 Flu Since Apr
10 10월 2009 - 5:02AM
Dow Jones News
Federal health officials said 76 children under the age of 18
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, 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, noting that 19 of the deaths were reported during the week
that ended Oct. 3. While most of the children had underlying
medical conditions, Schuchat said 20% to 30% of them didn't.
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 start circulating more widely in the autumn and winter
months.
The CDC said 37 states reported widespread influenza activity
during the week that ended Oct. 3, which the agency said is unusual
for this time of year. From Aug. 30 to Oct. 3, the CDC said, there
has been a total of 240 deaths linked to H1N1 influenza and 3,874
hospitalizations, with higher rates reported for both
hospitalizations and deaths attributed to "pneumonia and influenza
syndrome." In an average flu season, up to 200,000 Americans are
hospitalized and 36,000 die.
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 is delivered through the nose and that is approved for
"healthy" people ages 2 to 49. It isn't 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 SA (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