The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is estimating that between 41 million and 84 million cases of the deadly H1N1 flu virus have occurred in the U.S. between April 2009 and Jan. 16 of this year.
The midlevel in this range is about 57 million people infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, the CDC reported.
An agency official earlier this month reported that cases of H1N1 flu virus appeared to be leveling off, but the disease was continuing to cause hospitalizations and deaths. About 124 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been shipped to date—with millions more available. Vaccination “remains a good idea,”
Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, said at the time.
Anywhere from 183,000 and 378,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations have taken place between April 2009 and Jan. 16, the CDC reported in its latest estimates.
During this time period, approximately 8,330 to 17,160 2009 people have died from the virus, with most of the hospitalizations and deaths occurring among people ages 18 to 64.
Older Americans—people aged 65 and above—accounted for the smallest number of cases and hospitalizations over the past year.
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