Swine Flu Pandemic

The US Center for Disease Control is reporting that up to 40% of all Americans could become infected with the H1N1 Swine Flu within two years if a vaccine to combat the virus isn't developed. They are estimating that several thousand could die during that time frame. Source: Sun Sentinel

"The estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are roughly twice the number of those who catch flu in a normal season and add greater weight to hurried efforts to get a new vaccine ready for the fall flu season. Swine flu has already hit the United States harder than any other nation, but it has struck something of a glancing blow that's more surprising than devastating. The virus has killed about 300 Americans and experts believe it has sickened more than 1 million, comparable to a seasonal flu with the weird ability to keep spreading in the summer. "

In Florida, the Miami Health Care Examiner reports that there have been 3000 confirmed cases of H1N1 Swine Flu in Florida and 26 deaths. 14 of those deaths were reported last week alone. Nationwide, the CDC believes close to one million Americans have been infected with the virus. While 44,000 cases have been confirmed by laboratory analysis, many cases have been so mild that they were never reported. 302 deaths have been attributed to virus across the country.

The World Health Organization reports that work on a vaccine is progressing and should be ready in the fall when flu cases are expected to increase with school back in session. The United States expects to begin testing volunteers in August, with 160 million doses ready in October.

Europe is also fast tracking their vaccine development. They are in a hurry to get it widely distributed before this winter. They are so concerned about the virus spreading that the European Medicines Agency is allowing companies to skip testing in large numbers of people before the vaccine is approved. The lack of testing could make it difficult to gauge the effective dosage -- meaning Europeans might get too weak a vaccine. It's unlikely the vaccine would endanger anyone, but until it is used in large numbers of people, no one will know for sure. Source: Yahoo

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