CDC: Young People Make Up Majority of H1N1 Deaths

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Oct 21, 2009 at 10:34 AM CST

Story Updated: Oct 21, 2009 at 10:34 AM CST

WASHINGTON D.C. - New studies show the H1N1 is a young person's disease.

According to the CDC they make up the vast majority of the flu's hospitalizations and deaths.

The vaccine is slow in coming. Just 12-million doses have been made available so far, out of the 250-million the government ordered.

On Wednesday the nation's response will be the focus on capitol hill, as top administration officials go before a key senate committee.

"We want to make sure that every child has the opportunity to be vaccinated and protected against H1N1 influenza," said Thomas Farley, NY Dept. of Public Health.

New data released by the CDC show that of those hospitalized with the virus: 7 percent are people 65 and older; 39 percent are between 25 and 64; and 53 percent are people under 25.

From Flu.gov:
The CDC held the first of their two weekly H1N1 briefings today and said that young people continue to be hit especially hard by the 2009 H1N1 virus. More than half of the hospitalizations from 2009 H1N1 flu reported by 27 states from September 1st and October 10th were people age 24 and younger. About 23 percent of the deaths reported from 28 states during this period were in this age group.

In addition, about 90 percent of the hospitalizations and deaths from the 2009 H1N1 flu are in people age 64 and younger. With seasonal flu, we usually see the reverse – 60 percent of the hospitalizations and 90 percent of deaths from seasonal flu are in people age 65 and older.

Yesterday, the CDC circulated an alert reminding health care providers about early treatment of flu for patients at increased risk of complications. The alert can be found here. The CDC urges health care providers to start antiviral treatment as soon as possible when flu is suspected in these patients at risk and not wait for laboratory confirmation.

To help get antivirals to states, 300,000 additional doses of liquid Tamiflu for children were recently distributed through the Strategic National Stockpile. In addition, many pharmacies can create doses appropriate for children from existing supplies through a process called “compounding.” Many drug stores across the country, including Walgreens and Wal-Mart, are compounding antivirals locally to meet the needs of young children.

The CDC will hold its next H1N1 vaccine briefing on Friday, October 23, 2009. The briefing may be viewed at www.flu.gov/live.