New More Deadly H1N1 Virus Identified
According to a report in today’s FOX News, doctors are reporting a severe form of the H1N1 virus that goes straight to the lungs, causing severe illness in otherwise healthy young people and requiring expensive hospital treatment.
Also referred to as the “swine flu”, this update on the pandemic is cause for alarm to global healthcare systems in that patients hospitalized with the new H1N1 virus will need intensive care.
“During the winter season in the southern hemisphere, several countries have viewed the need for intensive care as the greatest burden on health services,” the World Health Organization stated.
“Preparedness measures need to anticipate this increased demand on intensive care units, which could be overwhelmed by a sudden surge in the number of severe cases.”
“Data continue to show that certain medical conditions increase the risk of severe and fatal illness. These include respiratory disease, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and immunosuppression,” WHO said.
“When anticipating the impact of the pandemic as more people become infected, health officials need to be aware that many of these predisposing conditions have become much more widespread in recent decades, thus increasing the pool of vulnerable people.”
H1N1 or Swine Flu is a bit scary but it a good thing to note that this virus is not that very deadly.
My brother got infected with H1N1 or Swine Flu in Mexico. He got a mild fever and luckily he did not die.