The H1N1 virus is stated to have four components of previous virus. One avian, one human and two swine. I believe the obesity 'link' is connected with the dominant characteristic found in pigs. FAT. Combine that with a human strain and an avian strain and one has a nasty virus with higher virulency.
Swine flu more active than seasonal flu (click title to entry - thank you)
Erin Allday, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
...Public health officials in California had said it was only a matter of time before someone in the state died from swine flu. For the most part, the flu - a strain of influenza A type H1N1 - has been relatively mild, with few hospitalizations.
But cases of all types of flu should have all but disappeared by now, public health officials said. Instead, officials at the CDC say there's been a slight increase in flu activity in recent weeks.
"This virus is circulating much later than the annual flu viruses," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director for the CDC's science and public health program, in a press conference last week. "We're really not seeing much of any other seasonal flu viruses anymore. But we are continuing to see this strain circulate."
The CDC and state public health agencies regularly keep track of the number of patients with flu-like illnesses seeking medical treatment. Typically the number of patients increases during the flu season in the winter months, then declines sharply in May and nearly disappears over the summer....
But cases of all types of flu should have all but disappeared by now, public health officials said. Instead, officials at the CDC say there's been a slight increase in flu activity in recent weeks.
"This virus is circulating much later than the annual flu viruses," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director for the CDC's science and public health program, in a press conference last week. "We're really not seeing much of any other seasonal flu viruses anymore. But we are continuing to see this strain circulate."
The CDC and state public health agencies regularly keep track of the number of patients with flu-like illnesses seeking medical treatment. Typically the number of patients increases during the flu season in the winter months, then declines sharply in May and nearly disappears over the summer....
We’re Officially Nervous About Swine Flu Again (click here)
5/28/09 at 12:34 PM
...“Many, many people share the same underlying causes that my husband had, and if he’s at risk, many people are at risk,” said Bonnie Wiener, the widow of Mitchell Wiener, 55, the first New Yorker to die of swine flu, on May 17.
She disputed the city’s assertion that underlying conditions were a factor in his death. “He was overweight and he was taking medicine for high blood pressure,” she said. “How many people 50 and above don’t?”...
Morning Rounds: Flu and Fat, Gifting Docs, Hamburg Gets To Work (click here)
by April Fulton
Good Morning.
One more reason to lose weight: NPR's Richard Knox reports that obese people may be at a higher risk for a complicated case of the swine flu, or H1N1 virus, according to the CDC. A survey of people hospitalized in California recently indicates that obesity may be as a much of a risk factor as heart disease, pregnancy and diabetes, the Washington Post reports.
Also, CDC's Anne Schuchat told NPR's Melissa Block on All Things Considered last night, there are likely 20 times more swine flu cases than are being reported in the U.S. Many are mild, she said.
Still, there is at least one likely new U.S. death today, which would bring the U.S. total to seven. Reuters says a 44-year-old Missouri man diagnosed with H1N1 died in a hospital Tuesday, although officials are still investigating whether the virus was the cause of his death.
