| The recent medical publications on the reasons why | | | | 40 years old. |
| Pandemic Flu is and has been so deadly are key | | | | Of those with severe lung injury, 79% of those age |
| information not only for scientists and physicians, but | | | | 18 to 40 will die while only 50% of those 40 years |
| for the general public as well. May people rely on their | | | | old will die. |
| belief that they are NOT at risk when Pandemic Flu | | | | What does that mean when totaled up? |
| strikes because they are young and healthy. It is this | | | | 26% of all people age 18 to 40 will be hospitalized |
| youth and vigor that actually places them at greater | | | | (compared to 15% of those 40) |
| risk than a small child, a kindly grandfather or even a | | | | 21% of all people age 18 to 40 will suffer severe lung |
| patient with HIV disease. | | | | injury (compared to 8% of those 40) |
| The immune response we all rely on to help us fight | | | | 17% of all people age 18 to 40 will die (compared to |
| off and recover from the usual yearly flu is the | | | | 4% of those 40) |
| precise mechanism that Pandemic Flu targets. Unlike | | | | Admittedly these are the worst case numbers, but |
| other diseases that inactivate portions of the immune | | | | they are based on a combination of the written |
| response, Pandemic Flu activates key portions of the | | | | accounts of the 1918 Pandemic and the current H5:N1 |
| immune response that result in massive inflammation | | | | Avian Flu Outbreak. |
| and destruction in the lungs and other key organs. | | | | So what can we do? Ask a kindergartner! |
| This "storm" of immunity is most prominent in those | | | | 1. Wash your hands |
| with the strongest immune system. In 2007, the | | | | 2. Don't share drinks and eating utensils |
| group with the strongest immune system consists of | | | | 3. Cover your mouth with your elbow when you |
| those age 18 to 40 years old. | | | | yawn, sneeze or cough |
| How big a difference will this make? Check the | | | | 4. Don't sit too close to others (6 foot separations |
| numbers: | | | | helped stop SARS in Toronto) |
| Regardless of age, when Pandemic Flu strikes, 1 in 3 | | | | 5. If you are sick, stay home. Call you doctor, don't |
| people will fall ill. | | | | go to the hospital that is where the sickest people |
| Of this 33%, hospitalization will be required by 79% | | | | will be. In other words, if you want to catch |
| of those age 18 to 40 while only 54% of those 40 | | | | Pandemic Flu, hang out in the ER Lobby. |
| years old. | | | | With these simple techniques, you and your family |
| Of those hospitalized, severe lung injury will occur in | | | | can keep yourself safe when the Pandemic comes. |
| 80% of those age 18 to 40 while only 50% of those | | | | |