Children Are Super Spreaders of the Swine Flue Virus

Fri, 24 Jul 2009
Children aged under 15 have become "super-spreaders" of the swine flu virus, doubling the number of new cases to 100,000 in the last week alone.

There are 840 people presently seriously ill in hospital, with the school summer holidays in full swing.

England’s chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson has warned that the virus is being spread chiefly mainly by the young.

Sir Liam stated that the enormous increase in the number of cases was "highly unusual".

This warning is bound to cause a lot of concern among parents travelling on holiday with children, where children are most likely to come into direct contact with others on the beach . Children who are diabetic are a specific high risk group.

The advice from experts in the medical field and the travel industry is to avoid crowded places should you feel unwell or have a chronic condition.

The Association of British Travel Agents has gone on record as saying: "If you have a high fever, cough or sore throat you should stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds as much as possible."

Sir Liam stated that about 100,000 people in England asked for help from their GP last week, up from 55,000 the week before.

At present there are 840 people in hospital, including 63 in intensive care. Those who are in most danger, the most prolific passers-on of the H1N1 virus, are children, particularly those aged one to 14.

"The number of cases has almost doubled, showing an overall very substantial increase," Sir Liam said. "The under-fives remain the most likely to be hospitalised."

There are currently 169 children under five being treated in hospital, as well as 87 aged five to 15.

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