Parents - H1N1 virus potentially deadly for minority

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H1N1 virus potentially deadly for minority

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- A minority of H1N1 patients rapidly develop life-threatening pneumonia, while the majority recover within a week, health experts meeting in Washington said.

More than 100 clinicians and scientists from around the world met for three days this week to compare information on the second wave of this year's pandemic virus, once called the swine flu, the World Health Organization said Friday.

The majority of H1N1 patients recovered within a week without medical treatment, while a minority developed severe pneumonia often associated with organ failure or advanced asthma, WHO officials said. Those patients were likely to place the heaviest burden on emergency rooms and intensive care units, said Nikki Shindo, a WHO medical officer.

"We can expect more severe disease during the upcoming influenza season," Shindo told The Washington Post Friday.

The risk of severe or fatal illness is highest among pregnant women, especially during the third trimester, children younger than 2 years of age, and people with chronic lung disease, including asthma, she said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 10/16/2009

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