<div id="subtitle">But 1 in 6 Americans have already had the virus</div><div><p> About 15 percent of the U.S. population, or one in six Americans, has gotten sick from the H1N1,or swine flu virus this year, according to the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.</p><p>In a briefing with reporters, Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the CDC, said there have been an estimated 50 million cases, up until November 14, mostly in younger adults and children. Of those cases, more than 200,000 people have been hospitalized, which is about the same number that there is in a usual flu season for the entire year. But what's different about this year, he says, is the flu has been much harder on young people than the elderly. </p><p>“The bottom line is that by November 14th, the day up to which those estimates include, many times more children and younger adults, unfortunately, have been hospitalized or killed by H1N1 influenza than occurs during a regular flu season,” Frieden said. </p><p>For the week ending December 5, the last week for which there are records, the CDC reports that cases of flu continued to decrease in the U.S. At the same time, almost 99 percent of the subtyped influenza A viruses reported to CDC were H1N1. </p><p>In other findings:, the CDC reported: • The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold for the tenth consecutive week. • Sixteen influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported. Thirteen of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, two were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was undetermined, and one was associated with an influenza B virus infection. • The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 2.7% which is above the national baseline of 2.3%. Six of the 10 regions reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. Regions 3, 6, 8 and 10 reported ILI below their region specific baselines. • Fourteen states reported geographically widespread influenza activity, Puerto Rico and 25 states reported regional influenza activity, the District of Columbia and seven states reported local influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and four states reported sporadic influenza activity. </p><p>With flu cases declining, is the worst of the 2009-10 flu season over? Frieden says there's no clear consensus on that point. </p><p>“When we've asked flu experts from around the country and around the world what they think will happen in the rest of this flu season, about half think will have a lot more cases between now and May,” Frieden said. “And about half think we won't.
The truth is we don't know.
Only time will tell.” </p><p>With an uncertain future regarding the virus, Frieden said he still recommends that anyone who has not yet gotten a flu vaccination get one. Early shortages limited the availability of swine flu shots, but most clinics around the country have now opened vaccinations to everyone. </p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=65448767&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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