Swine flu cases drop, but death stats spike

You might think that inter-species diseases are a thing of the movies, but in reality viruses, bacteria, and fungus jump between the species they attack. The recent H1N1 pig flu virus had genes from bird flu, and when it migrated to humans, it acquired human genes.
Vaccines try to prevent inter-species viruses and include immunity against variations of H1N1, H3N2, H1N2. Viral mutations are not fiction, and vaccination and potent anti-virals are some of our weapons.

ATLANTA - Swine flu infections seem to be dropping, but more than two dozen children died with the illness during one week in November, according to a government report released Monday.

Widespread infections of swine flu were reported in 32 states as of Nov. 21, down from 43 states the week before, officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The CDC also said there were 27 new lab-confirmed swine flu deaths in children younger than 18, bringing the total to about 200 children. That's the largest one-week tally for children since the pandemic started.

Since it first was identified in April, swine flu has sickened an estimated 22 million Americans, hospitalized about 98,000 and killed 4,000. It has proved to be similar to seasonal flu but a bigger threat to children and young adults.

The swine flu pandemic so far has hit in two waves in the United States: first in the spring, then a larger wave that started in the late summer.

In late October, 48 states reported widespread flu activity.

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Biotechnology advances have allowed us to understand viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens better than ever before. We use genetic engineering, DNA sequencing, microarrays, PCR, and other genomic and proteomic tools to understand pathogens better.

We've also developed vaccines and potent antivirals and antibiotics that fight diseases. A proof of this is how much longer life expectancy is Today than it was before the 1940's when antibiotics were invented.

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