Swine flu a "young person's" disease

By Craig Schneider

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A top federal health official declared swine flu a "young person's disease" Tuesday, as recent figures revealed the illness mainly attacks kids and younger adults nationally and in Georgia.

Moreover, national and state figures showed that the disease has largely passed over the elderly, a major change from the profile of regular flu that typically hits the elderly the hardest.

Health officials have speculated that older adults may have some form of immune protection due to prior exposure to swine flulike viruses. The latest swine flu emerged in April and has swept through schools, summer camps and colleges.

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that the latest analysis showed that 53 percent of those hospitalized from swine flu were under the age of 25. Meanwhile, only 7 percent were above the age of 64.

"We do think this is a young person's disease," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's director of immunization and respiratory disease.

In addition, almost one-quarter of the deaths nationally were people under 25, while only about 12 percent were those over the age of 64, she said.

The CDC's analysis was based on cases that have emerged since Sept. 1 in states that report to the federal government.

Georgia's figures greatly mirror the national picture.

Of the 28 people who have died of swine flu in Georgia since it emerged in April, six -- or 21 percent -- were below the age of 25. Only one person was over 64, according to figures from the state Department of Community Health.

Of the 565 people who have been hospitalized in Georgia, two have ages that are unknown, health officials said. Of the 563 whose ages are known, 274 -- or 49 percent -- are under the age of 25. A total of 25 -- or 4 percent -- are over the age of 64, officials said.

"This is very predominantly a younger illness. We're seeing virtually no hospitalizations in people 65 and older," said Marcia Delk, senior vice president for medical affairs for WellStar Health System in metro Atlanta.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta saw a surge of children with swine flu after school started in August, said its pediatrician in chief, Dr. James Fortenberry. The facilities saw two to three times the number of children coming in for that time of year, he said, but the great majority of children experienced mild to moderate symptoms.

The CDC announcement comes as impatience grows for widespread availability of a swine flu vaccine. Federal health officials say the virus is driving an unprecedented amount of illness for this time of year.

But based on federal projections, Georgia health officials say the state expects to receive about half the vaccine it anticipated this month, and that supplies won't be widespread in the state until either the end of this month or in November.

The CDC's Schuchat emphasized the need for people to get vaccinated, and she said the federal government is moving as quickly as possible to provide vaccine while still ensuring that the product is safe and effective.

"It probably feels like this is a slow start," she said. "But we're not cutting any corners in safety."

She said the swine flu may stick around for several more months.