Originally Posted by
oscardeuce
http:///forum/post/3031136
Hand washing is the best bet.
Bionic stated it was NOT affecting the young, yet a 9 year old in Ohio and a 2 year old death in TX. I'd count it as the child exposed those in close contact, although thankfully the family appears fine. They have enough to worry about.
God speed!
Where did I make that statement? Any form of influenza can affect any person of any age group. Deaths that occur with influenza are normally with individuals who already have other illnesses or weak immune systems. In regards to the majority of swine flu cases in the US, the people infected are mostly healthy teenagers and middle-aged individuals. That's why you probably won't see as high a death rate here than in other countries.
The local news here stated this 23 month old that died in Houston came from Mexico through Brownsville. They stated he already had a severe medical condition before contracting the swine flu. The physicians in Brownsville decided to send him to Houston because they have one of the better facilities in the state to treat children with these type of diseases.
One of the main differences with this flu over the other strains that are common in the US is it's ease of transmission. I would surmise this is due to the fact that our immune systems haven't been 'infected' with this strain because it is completely new, and we haven't created any antibodies yet to ward it off. That's why it's so easy to 'catch' when someone simply sneezes in your vacinity, or touches something before you do. The only problem will be if it continues to mutate between periods where it'll be active.
Ironically, it would probably a good thing if more people do become infected with this strain. Once that happens, more and more individuals will generate antibodies to ward it off the next time it comes around (which I'm sure it will).
