KPTM FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; Nebraska News, Sports; kptm.com | Preparing for H1N1 in Omaha
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OMAHA (KPTM) - The numbers are staggering, and a little hard to take in - especially if you're the parent of a young child.
Monday, a presidential advisory panel released a report indicating 30-50% of Americans will catch the H1N1 virus this fall. Most between the ages of 6 months to 24-years-old, with the possibility of 90,000 deaths.
"They are close in terms of what we should expect. These are estimates. Nobody knows exactly what will happen."
Doctor Archana Chatterjee, an infectious diseases pediatrician, who practices at four area hospitals (Children's Medical Center, Creighton Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, and Bergan Mercy) says, estimates are so high because the general population doesn't have any immunity to the virus.
"This is going to come, and people should prepare for it - don't panic, or be too complacent."
With the government estimating 1.8 million H1N1 hospital admissions this fall, Dr. Chatterjee assures, most hospitals are prepared.
They plan on immunizing their workers, placing restrictions on visitor access, delaying certain surgical procedures, and, "intensive care units are looking at how many ventilators they have, appropriate staffing to manage the increase in patients," said Chatterjee.
Until the H1N1 vaccine is made available in mid October, Dr. Chaterjee says, "use common sense." And if you happen to have a high fever combined with respiratory problems, to immediately call your doctor.
Children, young adults, and pregnant women are at the top of the list for the H1N1 vaccine. Doctors say, the elderly are at the bottom, because they are least likely to catch it - mainly because they've already been exposed to a number of influenza viruses.
