Sunday, September 20, 2009

H1N1


It seems every where you go people are talking about the swine flu pandemic, scientifically known as the H1N1 virus. You could say that the topic of swine flu has been catching on like wildfire throughout the nation; discussed by scientists, researchers and above all the media. Similarly, the effects of the virus appear to be spreading from person to person at a rate equally as rapid. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention state that swine flu is spread in a way resembling that of the common seasonal flu. It travels mainly "from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with the influenza." (Center for Disease Control) Because the virus is so easily transferred between people, I would definitely recommend receiving the swine flu vaccination. Especially living here on Penn's campus, amoungst thousands of other students that are frequently in close contact with one another, it is safe to have the vaccination in order to prevent contracting the virus. Students sit in close vicinity to one another during class lectures and often live with another student as well. And if a person does not acquire the disease through those means, then there is a higher chance that they obtain H1N1 during college social events such as parties and football games. Another reason that I would receive the vaccine is because H1N1 is unusual in that it has a greater effect in individuals 25 years of age or younger (CDC). In contrast to the seasonal flu, the swine flu has impacted a greater proportion of the younger population rather than those at the ends of the age spectrum (children younger than five and adults older than 64). This is the main reason why I believe many fear H1N1. Disregarding the role of the media, which fuels all of the hype pertaining to H1N1, people are afraid of the swine flu because its forceful attack on young people, something that is very different to other viruses. However I don't think that gives reason to overreact to current condition of this pandemic. Especially when the seasonal flu attributes to 36,000 deaths each year and there are only 550 confirmed deaths from H1N1 in the United States. (CDC)

References
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009, August 5). H1N1 Flu. Retrieved from Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

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