"The 2009-H1N1 flu virus could cause upwards of “90,000 deaths in the United States, concentrated among children and young adults,” states the report, which was released by the Obama administration Monday."In addition, the 2009-H1N1 flu strain could “produce infection of 30 percent to 50 percent of the US population this fall and winter, with symptoms in approximately 20 percent to 40 percent of the population (60–120 million people), more than half of whom would seek medical attention.”
Consequently, “as many as 1.8 million US hospital admissions during the epidemic” could occur, “with up to 300,000 patients requiring care in intensive care units (ICUs),” the report stated. “Importantly, these very ill patients could occupy 50–100 percent of all ICU beds in affected regions of the country at the peak of the epidemic and could place enormous stress on ICU units, which normally operate close to capacity.”
"While these scenarios are alarming, they represent only a relatively mild outbreak – an outbreak that will put inordinate strains on an emergency health care system that is already strained to the breaking point on a daily basis in many parts of the country."
"An H1N1 resurgence in the coming months “could cause serious disruption of social and medical capacities in our country ..."
Story link.
Presidential report link.
(President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology)
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