Prompted by allegations that the swine flu pandemic was oversold to promote vaccine sales, researchers at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda MD have released their assessment of the mortality associated with the H1N1 virus in the U.S during the past flu season. In their own words:

“We conclude that the 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic virus had a substantial health burden in the U.S. over the first few months of circulation in terms of years of life lost, justifying the efforts to protect the population with vaccination programs. Analysis of historic records from three other pandemics over the last century suggests that the emerging pandemic virus will continue to circulate and cause excess mortality in unusually young populations for the next few years.”

Relying on the fact that the average age of an H1N1 victim (37) is far younger than the average of a typical seasonal flu victim (76), researchers calculated that in the U.S. H1N1 cost nearly 2,000,000 years of life versus 600,000 for the seasonal flu.

In an interview with New Scientist magazine, researcher Lone Simonsen warns that most people killed in the 1968 pandemic died in its second wave, and advises vaccination. It’s autumn now in the southern hemisphere, and H1N1 is returning. We will keep tracking its progress for our globally mobile readership.

The flu season in the northern hemisphere has reached its midpoint, and the latest news suggests that the H1N1 outbreak has peaked in most if not all countries. Among the 208 countries where H1N1 has appeared, peak intensity persists in Poland, Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine. H1N1 vaccine is now widely available in the U.S., and many countries in western Europe are cancelling orders for additional vaccine because a single dose has been found to be effective. It’s likely there are continuing vaccine shortages in many developing countries, so travelers to these destinations should not expect to have access to the vaccine while abroad. It’s no surprise that manufacturing and distributing vaccine on a global scale at “break-neck speed” has produced widespread delays and surpluses and shortages.

If you haven’t had a shot, it’s still worth considering (especially if you are under age 30) as world health authorities warn that another wave of H1N1 remains a possibility. Plus, immunizing today is likely to give you some level of protection against related strains in years to come. Of course, everyone always needs to weigh the risks of side effects. Our species may weather this season’s attack without enormous social disruption and loss of life, but we’ve certainly been reminded that luck often outweighs all our furious efforts to protect ourselves.

The news from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) this week is encouraging.  It appears that H1N1 activity has temporarily peaked, with 43 states reporting widespread activity (down from 46 last week).  However, the CDC also cautions that the numbers could pick back up after the holidays when the seasonal flu usually takes off.  In an effort to remind people to take steps to prevent their chances of catching anything,  the CDC has launched the Travel Health Campaign–posters,  e-cards and specific information for those studying abroad during flu season.  In addition, flu.gov offers several widgets that can be distributed to help spread the word.

In case you are traveling this week, here is the WHO’s worldwide situation update indicating disruption of healthcare services due to the flu.    

Hopefully anyone with flu-like symptoms will stay homes holiday, but in case they don’t, here are some tips to protect yourself.  Wash your hands frequently, keep your hands away from your eyes and face and avoid contact with anyone who appears to be sick.

Happy travels!

In H1N1 news this week:

Freakonomics charts how H1N1 has impacted this year’s flu season.

The Wall Street Journal blog offers perspective on the number of H1N1 cases reported so far this year. 

New Scientist offers a point to ponder in their article suggesting that the common cold has helped tame “the swine” in Europe.

If this news has you looking for the vaccine, Google is ready with a new tool in their flu trend arsenal:  the flu shot finder.

And if you are sick, but can’t decide if it’s a cold, the seasonal flu or H1N1, consult this chart and analyze your symptoms.

As always, for a global report on H1N1, visit with the WHO.

When the news broke that 2,500 schools in Iraq have been closed in response to H1N1 outbreaks, we couldn’t help thinking how susceptible we all are to headlines, sound bites and video clips. As H1N1  washes over the northern hemisphere, we have some friendly advice: Instead of just tuning into the news, tune into the facts via the resources that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has compiled.  Flu.gov is a hype-free site full of valuable information and answers to your questions, such as “Can a cockroach carry the H1N1 virus?”

Maybe your seasonal allergies are affecting you differently than they did last fall; maybe you’ve been sprayed with H1N1 via the coughs and sneezes of a germ-spreading co-worker; or maybe, you just don’t feel well.  In an effort to help those who are concerned that they may be infected with H1N1, the Department of Health and Human Services has added an online self-evaluation to Flu.gov.  This may be a better alternative than risking sitting next to someone who actually does have it (or some other contagious ailment) while sitting in your doctor’s waiting room. 

In just a few questions, this Severity Assessment will let you know if you probably do or probably don’t have the flu and will offer you advice on getting further treatment. 

Do you think this is an effective way of triaging flu victims?

The H1N1 news this week provided some tech news, entertainment, and reassurance:  Google is taking advantage of its view from the top of the world to map the global flu trends; the Dalai Lama has adopted the fist-bump; and according to recent reports, only a small number of people infected with H1N1 are getting really sick from it. 

Google explores flu trends around the world.  

Who’s on the “fist bump” bandwagon? 

Most people who get H1N1 don’t require serious medical treatment.

What was your favorite story this week?