The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic continues to spread in the United States, particularly among teenagers.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 25 percent of H1N1 hospitalizations from Aug. 30 to Oct. 10, 2009 were “among those 5 years to 18 yearsâ€â€”the largest-hospitalized demographic. This same age group accounted for 14 percent of the “292 laboratory-confirmed 2009 H1N1 deaths†during the same period.
On Oct. 24, 17-year-old New Jersey high school student Andres Mendez died of the H1N1 virus.
According to Rancocas Valley Regional High School principal Michael Moskalski, Mendez exhibited no flu symptoms at school on Friday—the day before his death (NBC Philadelphia).
“It’s crazy that this happened,†student Madeline Hutz said. “When we first heard about the H1N1 virus we were really scared but we never thought it would be coming to our school†(WPVI-TV).
During a 60 Minutes interview in early October, Assistant Surgeon General Rear Admiral Anne Schuchat was asked what demographic is most endangered by the outbreak. She replied, “Children and young adults.â€
Swine Flu was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on June 11, 2009. Its reach is predicted to spread.
The CDC recommends frequent hand-washing, refraining from touching the mouth, nose and eyes, and keeping distance from the infected to reduce the risk of contracting the flu.