Children who have asthma are at higher risk of developing problems if they contract the H1N1 flu, more so than if they have the seasonal flu, say researchers.
Researchers in Toronto, Canada, investigated the differences between 58 children with H1N1 who were admitted to the Hospital for the Hospital for Sick Kids, in Toronto, and 200 who had been admitted to the same hospital with complications from the seasonal flu, between 2004 and 2008.
The researchers found that 22% of the children who were admitted because of H1N1 had asthma, while only 6% of those with seasonal influenza were asthmatic. In addition, …read more

With all the news coverage about swine flu outbreaks, I think using some caution when trick or treating may be in order for Halloween this year. I guess the safest thing to do would be to lock the doors, bar the windows and huddle in your house while eating a food stockpile you put together before the outbreak. Not much fun, though. Besides, then you’d have to have your mail deposited into a little box that you sprayed heavily with disinfectant to be sure your mail carrier didn’t give you any flu germs…So, I’m thinking more of a healthy medium. …read more

Have you made up your mind about whether you’ll receive an H1N1 vaccine? According to a new survey by the Harvard School of Public Health, only 40% of adults are “absolutely certain” they’ll receive the H1N1 vaccine. Polling was completed September 14-20, 2009.

One major reason people who took the survey weren’t certain about getting the new vaccine is side effects. Other reasons given include people thinking they aren’t at risk of getting a serious case of H1N1 and some believing they can easily get medication to treat the illness if they do become sick. Some parents said that they …read more

If you’ve been waiting for the H1N1 (swine flu) nasal flu vaccine, FluMist, it will be available next week in some parts of the United States, but in limited quantities as this is the first shipment.
Different states have different strategies for who will be the first to be vaccinated, either by FluMist or the traditional injection. Some states, such as Illinois want to vaccinate their first responders, while others, such as Alaska, want to vaccinate the preschoolers first. Pennsylvania will be targeting it’s elementary school-age children first.
The FluMist isn’t for everyone. Because it contains a weakened live virus, it is …read more

Today, eight leading national health organizations partnered to urge pregnant women to get the H1N1 flu vaccine, as well as the regular seasonal flu vaccine.

The organizations include the March of Dimes, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses, the Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
This joining together is a powerful statement. The group believes that the normal changes during pregnancy make pregnant women particularly vulnerable to the flu. …read more

When we hear of illness outbreaks, we often also hear of school closings. This is done with the hope of containing contagious illnesses and minimizing the spread and impact. However, with a new school year dawning in the United States, this may not be the case with regards to the H1N1 virus, the so-called swine flu.
There are a lot of issues to take into account when schools are closed en masse. Parents must scramble for child care, stay home and lose income, or leave their children unattended if they’re desperate enough. This can have a domino effect for the families, …read more

Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) have said that the world seems to be on track for the first H1N1 influenza vaccines to be approved by September. The so-called swine flu has been making its way around the world and scientists have been working at developing a vaccine before the virus makes its second wave, affecting even more people.
Developing a vaccine is intense work that can go in the wrong direction at any time. The many steps involved in developing the vaccine and ensuring  its safety and efficacy takes time. The WHO has outlined how this is done in …read more