# 3281
While most people who contract the novel H1N1 virus experience a relatively mild illness, a small minority do see more severe symptoms.
And as we expect with any influenza, regrettably a small percentage of those die. So far, most of the fatalities we’ve heard about involved people with `pre-existing conditions’.
At last report, out of nearly 9,000 confirmed cases around the country, over 500 were hospitalized – most of those being in the 5 to 24 age range.
Unlike seasonal influenza, this novel H1N1 virus seems to hit young adults and adolescents the hardest, with (thus far) very few patients over 60.
Today, we learn of two deaths that actually occurred last week due to the H1N1 virus. One was a woman of 24, who was pregnant, a known risk factor for influenza. The other was a 44 year old man.
This from KVIA ABC-7 TV news.
OFFICIALS: 2 dead from Swine Flu in El Paso
Posted: May 29, 2009 12:53 PM
EL PASO -- Two people with influenza-like illnesses have died in El Paso County, according to the city's Department of Public Health.
The victims were a 24-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man, officials added. Both individuals died while receiving treatment at a local hospital. Laboratory tests confirmed both had the novel H1N1 Swine Flu.
The woman, who was pregnant, died on May 24. The man died on May 19.
The CDC has highlighted those groups of people it believes may be at higher risk of complications from this (and other) influenzas.
Groups at Higher Risk for Severe Illness from Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Infection
Groups of people at higher risk for severe illness from novel influenza A (H1N1) infection are thought to be the same as those people at higher risk for severe illness from seasonal influenza. These groups include:
- Children younger than 5 years old
- Persons aged 65 years or older
- Children and adolescents (younger than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection
- Pregnant women
- Adults and children who have pulmonary, including asthma, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes
- Adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.
