Lemme answer a couple of questions...

[bailunrui]

This post is meant to answer some frequent questions that I've been hearing. I am not here to present all of the evidence, theories, and interpretations of the CDC. This is just a primer on what we know now as of April 29, 2009.

I would like to preface this little FAQ with a disclaimer - I am not an expert on infectious diseases. I am a doctoral

Comments

[spicklething]

I think I love you.

Great summary

[bailunrui]

Awww, thanks! I'm glad you didn't find any errors. :)

[thisficklemob]

The infectious period is assumed to be similar to usual human flus where humans can transmit the virus between one day prior to symptoms until resolution of symptoms.

I thought that even with regular flu humans could keep shedding virus after the symptoms resolved. (I do remember reading that with HPAI H5N1, adults kept shedding in their feces for a week or more, and children up to 21 days, but I don't have a cite, since that was years ago.)

[bailunrui]

According to the CDC document for clinicans:

Infectious period

The duration of shedding with swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus is unknown. Therefore, until data are available, the estimated duration of viral shedding is based upon seasonal influenza virus infection. Infected persons are assumed to be shedding virus from the day prior to illness onset until resolution of symptoms. Persons with swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be considered potentially contagious for up to 7 days following illness onset. Persons who continue to be ill longer than 7 days after illness onset should be considered potentially contagious until symptoms have resolved. Children, especially younger children, might be contagious for longer periods.

[bailunrui]

Since this is a novel strain, I don't know how accurate the assumptions of infectious period are. The virus could very well be shed after symptoms resolve, but there hasn't been evidence to confirm that in the current epidemic/pandemic.

[bailunrui]

At this point, the mortality rate in the U.S. has not exceeded the mortality rate for normal flu. However, many more people have been infected by seasonal flu, so perhaps only time will tell once we get a more complete picture of how widespread this is.

Also, that 36,000/year is for the U.S. only. I should amend my post to make that more clear.

[thisficklemob]

This article about the history of swine flu is pretty neat.

[bailunrui]

Nifty link. Thank you!

[mswyrr]

Thanks for breaking it down for us! :)

[bailunrui]

No problem!