Washington, D.C.--The H1N1 flu is expected to return, perhaps in a more virulent form than when it first struck last April, said Congressman Eliot Engel, and it will not behave like the flu season we are used to.

“While anyone can get sick,” he said, “the pattern of infection is unusual. It hasn’t yet affected many seniors, but it spreads rapidly among otherwise healthy kids up to college age. And it’s especially dangerous for people with chronic illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or people with compromised immune systems, and women who are pregnant.”

The symptoms, he said, are similar to the seasonal flu: a cough, sore throat, stuffy nose; achiness, headache, chills and fatigue, but not everyone gets a fever. Sometimes H1N1 causes diarrhea and vomiting. Just like seasonal flu, it can be severe and potentially deadly.

The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) reported that H1N1 is not more deadly than other flu strains, but because it’s a new strain to which we have no immunity, it’s likely to infect more people than usual. And because we already have seasonal flu viruses along with the 2009-H1N1 flu virus causing illness, doctors’ offices and hospitals may fill to capacity.

“At the federal level, we have been responding aggressively to H1N1,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, “planning for a resurgence of H1N1 influenza, and letting people know what they should expect and start preparing for a lot more flu cases than we’ve seen in the past few years.”

The federal government sent more than $350 million in federal grants to states, and hospitals to help them strengthen their flu response -- nationwide, distributing $260 million in Public Health Emergency Response Grants and $90 million in Hospital Preparedness grants.

The government has also been working with manufacturers to develop vaccines that are now in clinical trials and expect to begin a vaccine campaign in mid-October.

“During the flu season, everyone should wash their hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home if sick,’ said Rep. Engel. “These steps work.”
In recent weeks, the federal government issued flu guidance targeted to K -12 schools, the business community, and institutions of higher education. Each of these groups has different challenges when it comes to meeting the flu threat.

Elementary and high schools, for example, need to start promoting prevention and identifying who might be at greatest risk from flu, to protect students and staff and stay open during flu season. They need to remain in contact with students when they’re home sick. This is important both to make sure they don’t fall behind in their studies, and maintain services such as school lunches that many kids depend on.

“We all have a role to play to protect ourselves, our families and our communities, Said Rep. Engel. “We can hope for the best, but we must prepare for the worst.”