H1N1 by the Numbers
December 14, 2009
Nearly 1 in 6 Americans (or about 15 percent of the country) have been infected by the H1N1 flu virus.
According to new estimates by the CDC, nearly 1 in 6 Americans (or about 15 percent of the country) have been infected by the H1N1 flu virus as of mid-November. This brings the total U.S. cases to approximately 50 million. The CDC estimates that there have been 200,000 hospitalizations, and 10,000 deaths since the outbreak of the H1N1 flu last Spring.
These estimates are based on data on 2009 H1N1 hospitalizations collected through CDC’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP), which conducts surveillance for laboratory-confirmed influenza-related hospitalizations in children and adults. The data is then corrected to account for under-reporting of flu illness.
These numbers tell us a few things. Notably, "that still leaves most people not having been infected and still remaining susceptible to H1N1 influenza," CDC Director Thomas Frieden said. The threat of infection is still very high, and it can cause significant harm if it becomes more widespread. Getting vaccinated is our best protection from greater infection – particularly as supplies are more available. As of this Friday, December 11, more than 86 million doses were available.
The second thing we learn from these numbers is that the H1N1 virus affects different people differently. In other words, it is not an equal opportunity threat. For example, children and adults between the ages of 18-64 are highly susceptible. Of the 10,000 estimated deaths, 1,100 of them are children, and 7,500 are adults between 18-64 – many under the age of 50. Comparatively, in a typical flu season there are around 1,000 deaths among people under 50 years old.
What’s more, the H1N1 flu has been particularly severe in Native American and Alaskan Native populations. This is mostly because of environmental factors and underlying conditions like diabetes and asthma.
The federal government is expanding its effort to encourage vaccination, including launching PSA campaigns, reaching out to health care providers, and making it easy for Americans to locate the nearest vaccination clinic. Vaccination supplies are growing and many states are opening up the vaccine beyond the priority groups.
Vaccination is the best means of preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death for you and your family. Now is a good window of opportunity to get you and your family vaccinated.
