Unplugged: Sebelius Says H1N1 "Has Not Gone Away"

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Washington Unplugged

(CBS)

Health And Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, speaking from today's flu preparedness summit, said on "Washington Unplugged" today that there are currently about 1 million cases of H1N1 flu transmitting throughout the United States.

"This disease has not gone away," she told CBS News' Bob Orr. "In fact, it's spreading from state to state. We've got outbreaks in every state, in about 102 countries around the world."

"What we're watching very closely, though, is what happens next," Sebelius continued. "So far it hasn't been terrifically lethal…but we need to get prepared for what may happen later this fall."

Sebelius said there remained uncertainty as to the future, and that "we need to be prepared for the worst case scenario."

"We don't know what will happen with this brand new flu strain when it mixes with seasonal flu," she told Orr. Sebelius said a new vaccine to immunize people against H1N1, also known as swine flu, is being prepared, in addition to the standard seasonal flu vaccine, and that she hopes it will be ready later this year.

"We need to make sure it's safe, so the scientists will begin clinical tests this summer, testing to make sure we know the right dosage and we know it doesn't have adverse side effects," Sebelius said. "Assuming that all goes well…we're likely to launch a major vaccination program this fall, having flu vaccine available by mid-October."

The health and human services secretary said the target population for the H1N1 vaccine is younger Americans.

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"This is a flu that's hitting school-age and younger kids," she said. "So it's different than seasonal flu."

Sebelius said "we're watching the southern hemisphere," which is currently in the midst of its flu season because it is winter, "really closely."

"We're going to get some pretty good clues on how lethal this disease may be if it mixes with seasonal flu," she said. "That's really what we're watching for."

Sebelius went on to stress that H1N1 is still spreading.

"So the hand washing techniques, you know, coughing into your sleeve, making sure that if you or your children are sick they stay home – that they don't spread this disease any further," she said. "We'd like to actually curtail the disease this summer and not see it continue to spread throughout the country."

Watch the full episode of "Washington Unplugged," which includes both the Sebelius interview and a report from the G-8 Summit in Italy, at left.