While initial public panic about the swine flu outbreak has largely subsided, the virus continues to spread through our species: The World Health Organization has tallied more than 10,000 cases worldwide, with 80 deaths confirmed. As patterns begin to emerge regarding who gets infected with the H1N1 flu virus, health officials are beginning to map out strategies for a potential wide-spread vaccination campaign. Young people are particularly prone to infection, researchers say.
Preliminary studies of family transmission showed that when one member gets infected, the most likely to follow are those under 18, not parents or grandparents [The New York Times].
The virus's spread through the young has led to the closing of schools in infection hotspots--Japan is the most recent country to shut school doors--but most cases in young people have not been severe. The people who do get more serious cases that lead to hospitalization have tended to ...
