Expert says H1N1 possibly less deadly than seasonal flu

The H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic appears to be leveling off and so far is no more deadly than seasonal flu and perhaps less so, according to Dr. James Wilde, director of the pediatric emergency department at the Medical College of Georgia. "It's too early to tell, but it may be that we've reached the peak of this pandemic and we're on our way down right now," said Wilde, who is board-certified in emergency pediatric medicine and infectious disease. He cautioned that physicians and the general public should not drop their guard yet.

As for the vaccine delays and disorder this fall, Wilde said blame likely lies with the federal government and manufacturers. Wilde said the federal government's insistence on giving thiomersal-free vaccines to certain risk groups over the years has created suspicion and misinformation on a preservative that is safe and needed for getting mass quantities of vaccines to the public. Meanwhile, he thinks manufacturers have failed to deliver vaccines, as previously promised, because of worries about losing money. "My own suspicion is the vaccine manufacturers don't want to be left with 200 million doses of vaccine," Wilde said, noting that manufacturers have had to absorb the cost of leftover vaccine in the past when viruses fizzled out.

Courtesy of The Post and Courier