30, which is similar to the distribution of obesity in USA, depending
what is defined as obesity.
Based on the reports of the deaths attributed to Swine flu in USA,
obesity seems to be quoted but the husband of the first US victim
denied flatly.
Late pregnancy could explain based on a theory proposed in this
article but I doubt that it is true. It is just a coincidence.
There are 5 out of 30 serious Swine flu cases in California, who are
pregrant but not know at what stage of pregnancy. The first death was
when she was at her 8th month of pregnancy.
We need more facts to verify but it is better to give special
treatment to these people if they experience flu.
Someone who still believes that Swine flu is just like normal flu
should study these facts.
Survey Finds Link Between Obesity and Flu Severity
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By David Brown and Robin Shulman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
A survey of people hospitalized because of swine flu in California has
raised the possibility that obesity is as much of a risk factor for
serious complications from the flu as diabetes, heart disease and
pregnancy, all known to raise a person's risk.
This Story
*
Swine Flu Spreads in Japan, Despite Quarantine Inspections
*
Survey Finds Link Between Obesity and Flu Severity
*
Complete Coverage: Swine Flu
In all, about two-thirds of the California patients had some
underlying medical condition, according to a report yesterday in the
weekly bulletin of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nationwide, 47 states and the District have reported 5,469 cases and
six deaths since the start of the outbreak in late April, according to
the CDC's count. Yesterday, officials in Missouri reported a seventh
U.S. death -- that of a 44-year-old man who had no underlying medical
problems, wire services reported.
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"We were surprised by the frequency of obesity among the severe cases
that we've been tracking," said Anne Schuchat, one of the CDC
epidemiologists managing the outbreak. She said scientists are
"looking into" the possibility that obese people should be at the head
of the line along with other high-risk groups if a swine flu vaccine
becomes available.
Other studies have shown that pregnant women are also at higher risk
for serious influenza infection, especially in the third trimester,
when the fetus and womb compress the lower parts of the lungs. This
makes it harder to breathe deeply and cough forcefully; it may also
alter blood flow in the chest. A similar thing may be occurring in
severely overweight people, some experts speculated.
The average age of the 30 Californians hospitalized for swine flu was
27.5 years. Nearly three-quarters were women, and 65 percent were
Hispanic. Half lived in two counties bordering Mexico.
Of the 30 people, 11 had a lung ailment such as asthma or emphysema,
six had an immune disorder, five had heart disease, five were
pregnant, four had diabetes and four were obese.
In New York, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (I) said officials were
investigating whether 16-month-old Jonathan Castillo, who died with a
high fever Monday night at a Queens hospital, had contracted the H1N1
virus. The toddler's 3-year-old sibling was treated for flulike
symptoms and released.
The mayor said lack of health insurance or immigration status should
not deter people who feel sick from seeking attention.
"Whether you have health insurance coverage or your immigration status
is in question, it doesn't matter," Bloomberg said. "We will not ask
about that."
The mayor also said four inmates at a Rikers Island jail had been
confirmed to have the H1N1 virus and four more are likely to have it.
The union representing the city's correctional officers criticized the
response to the swine flu outbreak among inmates and filed a letter of
protest with the state Labor Department.
"If I had to design a place where you could put people who were sick
and get as many people sick as possible, it's the New York City jail,"
said Richard J. Koehler, a lawyer for the Correction Officers'
Benevolent Association.
Shulman reported from New York.
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