Simple way to reduce H1N1 deaths? Don't test.

[JimO]

Source: http://www.clarionledger.com/article...issippi-Briefs

I wonder how much of this is going on nationwide.

H1N1 vaccine available today

Health officials say swine flu vaccine will be available today at all Mississippi's county health clinics and in some schools.

But the supplies will be limited, and officials hope certain groups will get priority - pregnant women, children age 6 months to 4 years, and infant caregivers.

The state has been shipped 223,800 doses of the vaccine. More is expected in coming weeks. Mississippi has had nine confirmed deaths from H1N1, but officials say the figure could be as high as 15 because some patients who died from the flu weren't tested for H1N1.

The state Department of Health has confirmed at least 1,200 cases.

[Legadillo]

Re: Simple way to reduce H1N1 deaths? Don't test.

Source: http://www.clarionledger.com/article...issippi-Briefs

I wonder how much of this is going on nationwide.

H1N1 vaccine available today

Health officials say swine flu vaccine will be available today at all Mississippi's county health clinics and in some schools.

But the supplies will be limited, and officials hope certain groups will get priority - pregnant women, children age 6 months to 4 years, and infant caregivers.

The state has been shipped 223,800 doses of the vaccine. More is expected in coming weeks. Mississippi has had nine confirmed deaths from H1N1, but officials say the figure could be as high as 15 because some patients who died from the flu weren't tested for H1N1.

The state Department of Health has confirmed at least 1,200 cases.

Its happening here in Georgia, as well. A little girl died of "flu-like symptoms" a couple weeks ago. They believed it was H1N1 but I don't think she was tested as they said she would be, although the testing could just be taking a long time due to the surge in cases (very probable). However, there were a number of hospitalized flu cases here in our area but no word on them and they are not represented in the state flu data, as far as I could see. I think we will never really get a clear picture of what's going on because there are so many cases and not enough resources.

[JimO]

Re: Simple way to reduce H1N1 deaths? Don't test.

I realize that it isn't practical to test every serious case or even every death. It probably wouldn't change anything since the presumption is that the vast majority of flu is H1N1 at this point. However, I'd like to see the states report either total P&I deaths or confirmed H1N1 and total influenza deaths.