With swine flu widespread, CDC says traveling asthmatics might need antivirals
Swine flu is widespread in North America.
The U.S. centers for disease control includes asthmatics in a list of people who might want to consider bringing antiviral medications with them when traveling, according to an October 12 update on the H1N1 (swine) flu epidemic. The CDC recommends that asthmatics should talk with their doctors about what to do if they develop flu symptoms while traveling and whether they should consider taking antivirals with them as a treatment option.
“Together, they should look carefully at the 2009 H1N1 flu situation at their destination and the available health-care options in the area when considering what would be best in their situation,”the CDC advised.
The H1N1 influenza virus is making its way through most countries in the Northern Hemisphere, and its particularly active in North America, according to the World Health Organization. As of October 17, 2009, there were more than 414,000 laboratory-confirmed cases worldwide and nearly 5,000 deaths reported to the WHO. “As many countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness, the case count is significantly lower than the actually number of cases that have occurred,” the WHO wrote in recent flu update.
The CDC reports that visits to doctors for influenza-like illness climbed rapidly during the second week of October, and overall are much higher than what is normally expected for this time of year. Forty-six states are reporting widespread influenza activity and almost all cases identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza.
