Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 2 : Fall 2010 | Page 48

Healthy You:

The Pandemic of 2009
by Kim Jones, Cary Medical Center

How could this happen? Just days before my much about 100,000 cases of the illness and less than 500 deaths
anticipated university graduation, rumors swirled around worldwide that could be directly attributed to the H1N1
the student community that the commencement ceremony virus. But most healthcare experts agree that the number of
may actually be canceled! After all that studying, test taking, those infected may be significantly underestimated because
time, energy, and money, how could they possibly deny us of poor data collection methods in many countries and the
the opportunity to walk across the stage and receive our unnecessary need for medical attention by those who were
diplomas in front of family and friends? The answer, as infected. “So far, this pandemic has been far less severe than
we all soon found out, could be summed up in two short previous ones,” said King. “Many people who have had the
H1N1 virus experienced symptoms
words: swine flu.
like those of a common cold or

In June 2009, the World
seasonal flu and did not require a
Health
Organization
(WHO)
What’s the difference? trip to the hospital. Without actual
declared the H1N1 influenza (flu)
laboratory testing, it is very difficult
was a global pandemic. Practically
to determine the exact cause of a
overnight, international air travel
Endemic: A disease that exists
person’s cough, fever, sore throat,
slowed or halted, hundreds of schools
permanently in a particular region or
headache, or other general ailment.”
were closed, disaster plans were
population. For example, malaria is
These circumstances have lead to the
launched at thousands of healthcare
endemic in parts of Africa.
CDC discontinuing official reporting
facilities, and a world-wide media
on individual H1N1 cases as of July
frenzy ensued. For several weeks,
24.
it was nearly impossible to turn on
Epidemic: A disease that occurs in

While there has been
the television or pick up a newspaper
many people at about the same time
a great sense of relief that this
without seeing images of people
and spreads through one or several
summer’s outbreak of the H1N1
wearing face masks. By early July, the
communities.
virus has been mild and medically
H1N1 flu had been confirmed in 122
manageable, officials at the WHO,
countries and a global-wide feeling of
nervousness set in.
Pandemic: An epidemic that spreads CDC, National Institute of Health,

“Much of the fear associated throughout several countries and has a and other healthcare organizations
are concerned about the future.
with the H1N1 virus stems back to the
global impact.
On August 24, President Obama’s
1918 influenza pandemic, commonly
scientific advisors released a statement
known as the ‘Spanish Flu’,” said Ann
outlining one possible, albeit worstKing, Infection Control Specialist at
case scenario that more than 100
Cary Medical Center. “That was a
devastating pandemic that affected nearly one-third of the million Americans could contract the H1N1 virus and some
world’s population and caused the death of more than 50 90,000 people could die from it during the 2009-2010 flu
season. “The worry is that H1N1 could combine with the
million people.”

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates upcoming seasonal flu and mutate into a new, drug-resistant
that nearly all cases of influenza A pandemics since 1918 form of the virus,” said King. “This ‘super-bug’ could be
have been caused by descendants of the Spanish Flu virus. extremely difficult to control and have a much more severe
The most recent o ]