Swine Flu Epidemic

We have all heard of the virus called H1N1 better known as swine flu as it has come a great concern for our nation's health. Nearly 3,900 people, including about 540 children, are believed to have died from the H1N1 flu in the first six months of the epidemic and forty eight states are reporting widespread flu activity. This number came as a shock to me. I had no idea how many people have suffered the consequences of this highly contagious disease.



We also know about the vaccines and how hard it is to receive one as everyone wants one. A delay for the CDC meant that instead of having 40 million doses of vaccine out by the end of October, they were only able to produce 28 million doses. Also not everyone around the world receives the same vaccine. For example a vaccine licensed in Europe has been manufactured using a new cell-based technology where as in the vaccine in the USA is grown in chicken eggs. This vaccine has also been approved for pregnant women. I believe that everyone should go and get this vaccine. So many people have been affected by this so the more people protected the better. Also to help prevent this people need to start doing simple things like washing there hands more and to watch out for areas with more germs such as door knobs. In addition people need to cover their coughs and sneezes more. It may not seem like it but the germs in coughs and sneezes travel a long way. We should be doing all we can to prevent it spreading even more.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/30/h1n1.vaccine.available/index.html