• In sickest H1N1 patients, mortality rate ranged from 14.3 percent to 41.4 percent
• Overall death rate is closer to seasonal flu than SARS
• Older people could have immunity to H1N1 because of virus 50 to 60 years ago
• “Definitely get the vaccine”

The ”ClifNotes” version of the latest findings is summarized as: Although the death rate appears to be similar to a very bad seasonal influenza epidemic, the victims are extremely unusual with the “Swine Flu”. Otherwise healthy young people (who would normally get well very soon after becoming sick with the flu) quickly succumb to respiratory overload and perish – in a pattern more suggestive of geriatric flu victims during “normal” seasonal flu.

It is important to state that this observational report is still ongoing with only the very earliest data points established for a baseline. However, what I’m particularly interested in is the threshold at which normal pathology and immune response goes haywire. Where this flu turns ugly – in a very swift timeframe - and causes the victim to crash regardless of mechanical respiratory intervention.  If this key indicator (expedient time to crash) is exhibited in an increasing fashion across this youth demographic, we’ve got a whole new situation on our hands. And, at which time, I would suggest utilizing some of the strategies the participants of this blog have illuminated previously.

Staying true to my original charter while attempting to interject levity into a very sober posting, I have been vaccinated with the Swine Flu shot and now only have a strange craving for pickles and ice cream. My kids are scheduled for their shots early next week. To toughen them up, I’ve been rubbing Twinkie Cake Creme under their eyelids when they sleep.

(Note to the casual, passive lurker stopping by for a quick read: I’m using a form of humor called sarcasm here – we don’t have a single Twinkie in the house [after I ran out of pickles and had to find a substitute]).

Stay Healthy.