Summary of a Pandemic: The following information is taken from the CDC H1N1 website:
- The U.S. Public Health Emergency for 2009 H1N1 Influenza expired on June 23, 2010. On August 10, 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee declared an end to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic globally.
- For an historical overview of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, visit The CDC’s 2009 H1N1 Pandemic: Summary Highlights.
- Internationally, 2009 H1N1 viruses and seasonal influenza viruses now co-circulate in many parts of the world.
- It is likely that the 2009 H1N1 virus will continue to spread for years to come, like a regular seasonal influenza virus. Fortunately it is no longer causing high levels of atypical illness and death within the population.
Concern for the detrimental affects of this virus were well-warrented in 2009-2010.
- At its height as a novel virus, the 2009 H1N1 Influenza caused illness and death in a manner that was atypical of seasonal influenza.
- The data by age group (provided in the updated estimates) confirmed that people younger than 65 years of age were more severely affected by this disease relative to people 65 and older compared with seasonal flu:
- Seasonal Influenza: affects primarily people age 65 years and older.
– about 60 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations occur in people 65 years and older.
– about 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in people 65 years and older. - The 2009 H1N1: affected primarily people younger than 65 years.
– about 90 percent of estimated H1N1 hospitalizations occurred in people younger than 65 years old.
– about 87 percent of estimated H1N1 deaths occurred in people younger than 65 years old. - An estimated 8,870 – 18,300 deaths occurred due to H1N1 during this time period, with an estimated 6,800 – 14,040 deaths occurring in individuals 18-64 years of age.
- Like seasonal flu, however, people with certain underlying health conditions were at greater risk of serious hospitalization and death associated from this virus.
- Of hospitalized adults and children with 2009 H1N1, 80% percent of adults and about 60% of children had underlying health conditions previously associated with conferring a greater of flu complications.
- St. Olaf College was fortunate in that we did not lose any students, faculty, or staff to this pandemic.