Swine flu is transmitted by children

Swine flu is mainly transmitted by children: children major carriers and major victims of the swine flu.

12/01/2011

Children are particularly susceptible to infection with the H1N1 virus and, at the same time, major carriers of swine flu. Because „the child's immune system is not mature, so that the virus can intervene particularly intensively“, said Wolfram Hartmann, President of the Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ) to the „West German newspaper“.

Swine flu especially dangerous for children
The health risk for the adolescents is particularly high, since the virus not only „extremely aggressive“ is, but „the children's immune system (...) does not know this new virus“ and „so no experience“ has, explained Wolfram Hartmann. „The H1N1 virus is more dangerous for young patients than other influenza viruses“, stressed the president of the BVKJ. Be there „the swine flu viruses (...) are so aggressive that they drown out the other influenza viruses.“ According to Hartmann, about three quarters of current flu cases go back to H1N1, whereby „Children (...) clearly the main carriers of swine flu“ are. According to the expert, children spread the virus of the swine flu, which „Last year has led to many serious illnesses, especially the lungs, to the point of death“, basically lighter. „As the nose runs, the hand is not held in front of the mouth when coughing“ and correspondingly fast spread the viruses, explained the BVKJ president.

BVKJ President recommends influenza vaccine for children
Although there have been isolated cases of death from swine flu since the beginning of the year, the majority of swine flu patients die after a few days with high fever, cough and runny nose, Wolfram Hartmann explained. However, since children are particularly susceptible to the H1N1 pathogens as outlined above, the president of the BVKJ strongly recommends adolescents to be vaccinated. The current seasonal flu vaccine 2010/2011 also protects against swine flu, emphasized Hartmann. Who got the vaccine last year „Pandemrix“ has already protected against H1N1 or fell ill with swine flu, but this year need fear nothing, since corresponding antibodies have formed, which even now provide sufficient protection, explained Hartmann. „The others, especially the children, should be vaccinated“, stressed the expert. Hartmann added: „We expect the peak for February. It takes two weeks for the protection to be built up. So there is still some time left.“ The cost of a flu shot in children usually take over the health insurance, according to the president of the BVKJ.

Seniors seem better protected from swine flu
The older adults are currently barely affected by the swine flu, according to the experts, due to the fact that many of them may have been infected some time ago with a variety of the current swine flu virus. „There were subspecies in the 50s“, What would explain why people over 60 years are currently hardly affected by the swine flu, explained the BVKJ president. How the spread of swine flu will develop in the course of the seasonal flu epidemic and whether it occurs as massive as in 2009, according to Hartmann is not yet clear. It could, however „come to an extreme explosion and therefore you should always prevent over the vaccinations“, Hartmann continues. According to the expert, about 25 million doses of vaccine are available nationwide so that there should be no bottlenecks in care for the time being.

Many Germans are skeptical of flu shots
However, there are no shortages in the supply, but it has been anticipated for weeks, as the vaccination rates in the population are still relatively low despite widespread calls for flu vaccines. Many citizens have grown significantly mistrustful of current vaccine practice in recent years, which has been further reinforced by the numerous side effects of last year's swine flu vaccine. Also, the repeatedly discussed, lack of distance between the health authorities, which pronounce the vaccination recommendations, and the vaccine manufacturers, has made many Germans skeptical. Vaccination rates of 50 to 60 percent, as for example the president of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Reinhard Burger, long-term, therefore seem rather unrealistic for Germany. In addition, there are also in natural medicine strong reservations against the comprehensive flu vaccines, since the inoculants often contain preservatives based on formaldehyde and mercury compounds in addition to the active ingredients. In addition, naturopathy points out that the flu viruses for the vaccines are partly cultivated in egg white and therefore people with allergies should be careful. (Fp)

Also read:
Immune to flu after swine flu infection?
Influenza: Risk groups should be vaccinated
Swine flu: number of new infections is increasing
Swine flu is back: RKI recommends vaccination
Swine flu is no reason to panic

Picture: Gerd Altmann