Dire Predictions For Swine Flu's Future

(AP)  Two major health organizations say the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic could effect a vast portion of the world's population in the coming years. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the number of Americans stricken with H1N1 could reach 20 to 40 percent of the population over the next two years.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization's flu chief says the global H1N1(swine flu) outbreak is still in its early stages and 2 billion infections over the course of the pandemic is "a reasonable ballpark to be looking at."

Keiji Fukuda, WHO's Assistant Director-General for Health Security and Environment, told The Associated Press on Friday that previous pandemics show even a few million cases could be "relatively early in the pandemic" and that given the size of the world's population, the new H1N1 virus is likely to spread for some time.

Fukuda says reports from Britain of a sharp spike in cases is consistent with WHO's expectations even though the Geneva-based agency has only received confirmed reports of some 130,000 infections worldwide.

The global health agency stopped asking governments to report new cases last week, saying the effort was too great now that the disease has become so widespread in some countries.

Health authorities in Britain say there were over 100,000 infections in England alone last week, while U.S. authorities estimate the United States has over 1 million swine flu cases. Those figures dwarf WHO's tally of 130,000 confirmed cases worldwide since the start of the outbreak last spring.

"We know that the total number of laboratory confirmed cases is really only a subset of the total number of cases," Fukuda said.

If the CDC projection is true, twice the number of people who usually get sick in a normal flu season will be afflicted by the swine flu. Officials said that estimate would drop if a planned vaccine campaign and other measures are successful.

Based on the new projections, the number of swine flu deaths in the U.S. over two years could range from 90,000 to several hundred thousand, if efforts to stem the flu failed. The CDC said the estimates are based on a 1957 flu pandemic.

Fukuda, the former chief of epidemiology at the CDC, also said there must be no doubt over the safety of swine flu vaccines before they are given to the public.

Health officials and drug makers are looking into ways of speeding up the production of the vaccine before the northern hemisphere enters its flu season in the fall.

"Everybody involved with the vaccine work, from manufacturers up to the regulatory agencies, are looking at what steps can be taken to make the process as streamlined as possible," Fukuda said. "One of the things which cannot be compromised is the safety of vaccines."

[nolongersick]

I have a proactive tip that may help stop their spread. My daughter learned this great program at school called Germy Wormy Germ Smart. It teaches kids to understand how germs spread and how to NOT spread them. It was so much fun for her, and amazing how quickly the kids learned healthier hygiene habits! The website speaks for itself: www.germywormy.com

[xlib]

Ah yes, another crisis too good to pass up.

[andylance1]

Dire speculations, rumors and faulty projections are rampant once again. This is just political cover for foolishly spending billions for vaccine.

It is almost non-existent in Mexico right now once it ran its course. Drug related violence is far more deadly.

[proud_churchgoer]

God will infect all sinners with this disease in an effort to cleanse the world.

[lovegetpeace]

Folks,
If Republicans succeed in stopping Health Care Reform this year, then please write to President Obama to support

Congressional Democrats call for several Independent Commissions and Special Prosecutors to Investigate and Probe all

Unconstitutional acts of Ex-VP Dick Cheney and Ex-President George Bush. Lets put Bush and Cheney in Jail. No

need for President Obama to be Mr. Nice President. Please help spread the word around like cancer.

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1912297,00.html?cnn=yes

The Republicans need a good Fear of their own.

You have my Explicit Permission to copy this idea for your own use. I refused 'All Rights Reserve'. I refused all

'CopyRights'.

[xlib]

You do know that your dems have enough votes to pass this debacle, right libster? I mean, it is members of the thug administration that is blocking this. You must also be aware that over 50% of Americans do not want this particular bill to pass, right? See, there sweetie, Bush is no longer president and your messiah has more crooks in his administration than ever before seen.
As for your thug being nice, well my delusional libtard, no worry about that. A thug can't be anymore than a thug.
Now, put your acorn hoodie on and be about your master's bidding.

[barbaram99]

It is the software that won't allow certain words and names. I really don't have the answer there. I am in my 50s. I don't want the flu. Sure the flud travel and hit more places as people fly,drive,visit all over the place. Fear is the worse thing out there.

[gunownerdan]

What ever happened to bird flu?

[erasmus111]

Right now, it's being contained. But that won't last forever. It's just a matter of time before a country lets it get ahead of them, and that will be it.

[EyeCeeUs]

Avian Flu H5N1 is alive and growing ,first in Eygpt, Japan and reported in Brazil headed toward U.S.A. Soon the mutate . With the contagious nature of H1N1 but deadly as H5N1

[didserve]

come on health industry get a job!

[txlakeside]

Whiner Birther! Would whine about WHO not warning us enough if more folks died!

[au_fait]

Tell the WHO to ****. I am so tired of scare tactics for them to grab more money. Where are the deaths that were projected last spring? I understand it is dormant and may come back, but seriously stop trying to scare everyone.