About 1 in 6 have been infected by H1N1, says CDC chief

About 15% of the entire U.S. population—or 1 in 6 persons—have been infected by the H1N1 virus since the disease emerged seven months ago, according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a news conference, CDC Director Thomas Frieden said the Atlanta-based agency estimates that the deadly strain has resulted in nearly 50 million cases, more than 200,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 10,000 deaths as of Nov. 14 in the U.S. alone. Of those estimated deaths, about 1,100 were among children and 7,500 were among young adults.

“Only time will tell” what the virus will do, Frieden said, adding, “That’s why vaccination remains the most important thing you can do.”

As of this week, the CDC said there are 85 million available doses of the H1N1 vaccine, with another 12 million expected next week. Frieden, who emphasized the need for high-risk populations to receive the vaccine, said the CDC has begun to vaccinate its employees and added that he expects to receive the nasal spray vaccine in a few days.

Also on Thursday, the agency released its weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which included data that show the H1N1 mortality rate among Alaskan Natives and American Indians in 12 states was four times higher than in persons in all other racial/ethnic populations combined. Reasons for this are unknown, the report said, but possibilities include a high prevalence of chronic health conditions—such as diabetes and asthma—that predisposes this population to flu complications as well as poverty and delayed access to care.

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