Swine Flu blamed for 49 Pediatric deaths in U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control says it has received reports of 49 pediatric deaths since April because of Swine Flu infections and the world-wide  death toll from the novel virus continues to escalate.

“49 pediatric deaths related to 2009 H1N1 flu have been reported to CDC since April 2009, including three more this week,” the CDC said. (Latest: Pediatric toll rises by 11 in one week to stand at 60)

The latest figures show 10,082 Americans were admitted to hospital between August 30 and September September 19 because of influenza and pneumonia and a total of 936 people died.

690 of those hospitalizations and 114 deaths were lab confirmed to be flu related – suspected to be cases of Swine Flu although the CDC now does not issue separate figures for H1N1 deaths.

The World Health Organization reports that  figures obtained up to September 20, 2009,  regions around the world have reported at least 318,925 laboratory-confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 with more than 3,917 deaths, which is an increase of at least 22,454 cases and more than 431 deaths since September 13th, the CDC said.

CDC’s latest bulletin also says visits to doctors for flu-like illness, mostly thought to be caused by the H1N1 virus have increased across the U.S. for six weeks in a row.

“Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) are increasing nationally. Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness are higher than what is expected during this time of year and have increased for six consecutive weeks now. This is very unusual for this time of year,” the agency said.

Twenty-six states are reporting widespread flu activity  at this time.

They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.

“Any reports of widespread influenza activity in September are very unusual,” it said.

• Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the viruses chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.

Related articles:

1. U.S. pediatric deaths continue to mount from Swine Flu
2. Pediatric deaths, hospitalizations rise in U.S. Swine Flu surge
3. More pediatric deaths from Swine Flu, 31,320 hospitalizations in U.S.
4. Nine more pediatric Swine Flu deaths reported to CDC