Swine Flu Down, Vaccine Supply Up November 24
The week ended at a rather optimistic note as far as swine flu is concerned. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are now 43 states compared to the previous week’s count of 46 that have widespread flu activity. The difference is slight and the statistics, if compared with previous years, are still rather high, according to director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Dr. Anne Schuchat. To that we say, though, the a slight improvement is certainly way better than none at all.
The CDC, in addition to monitoring swine flu since it first appeared in April, is also constantly working towards raising awareness. With the expected influx of travelers this Thanksgiving weekend, the Center has launched yet another public awareness campaign to ensure that travelers are kept safe and that the increase in travel will not necessarily mean an increase in the spread of the flu – both the H1N1 and seasonal variants.
The things that the CDC would like to remind people with the intent to travel over the holidays are simple. Among them is the basic reminder to travel only when one is well. As always, people are enjoined to wash their hands (often and properly), to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and to do so into a tissue to be disposed of immediately or into one’s sleeve, and to get vaccinated if one is considered as among those who should be prioritized for the vaccine.
Getting to those vaccines will no longer be that much of a problem, as more vaccines have now become available. Across America a total of 54.1 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have reportedly been ordered, which is 11 million more than what states were able to order in the previous week, according to Shuchat.
Tags: swine flu spread, swine flu status, swine flu vaccine