CDC Worries H1N1 Swine Flu Will Become A Summer Influenza

According to this article (here):

CDC officials say around 100,000 people are likely infected with the new flu strain in the United States

Wow. That’s shocking. The H1N1 flu virus, also known as the Swine Flu or Pig Flu, has long been forgotten about by most Americans. In fact, I have heard a number of TV anchors and radio personalities making fun of just how overblown the Swine Flu hysteria was. And we’re on to other things now anyways. America is once again talking steroids in sports and the commencement address of President Obama at Notre Dame’s graduation ceremony. In our world of up-to-the-minute coverage of everything, the Swine Flu is yesterday’s news. Or is it?

Don’t look now, but the Swine Flu is back in the news, and the CDC believes there will be a summer influenza. That’s right. Rather than hitting in the normal flu season, a summer flu may strike. And don’t look now part two: the strain is virtually everywhere:

The influenza, officially known as H1N1, sickened at least 125 in Japan as the number of infections worldwide topped 8,800 in 40 countries. Health officials of more than 190 nations began a meeting today of the World Health Assembly in Geneva to debate whether swine flu is spreading widely enough to upgrade the threat to level 6, the highest, and declare it the first pandemic since 1968.

But wait! There’s more bad news, especially if you are younger. The H1N1 flu virus may be a mild in nature, but it is disproportionately affecting children, teenagers and young adults. And even though it’s symptoms are mild for most, it has hospitalized up to 200 of the younger demographic. Some people believe that young people are at higher risk of this flu because they are more social and have more contact with other people. And some believe that many older people have had a similar variant to this strain a long time ago, making them mostly immune to the H1N1 virus.

Well, I’m going to file this post under the Doom & Gloom category. Maybe not. But seriously, I hope that none of you get this flu virus. Drink lots of water and don’t be social, especially with kids.