Swine flu: Who's most vulnerable?

Who is most likely to get swine flu? Neither the very young, nor the very old, says the government.

The initial 30 swine flu deaths have been studied by the Health Ministry. The conclusion: ''People in age group of 14 and 44 years have been the worst hit, '' according to R K Shrivastava, Director General of Health Services.

The finding provides some relief for a country worried that children were easy targets. Initially, clusters of cases were reported in Pune, Chandigarh and Delhi schools. A perception that intensified after the death of 14-year-old Reeda Sheikh -- the first swine flu casualty in India.

Experts point out that the virus is just four months old, and who is most vulnerable remains a grey area for scientists across the world. 

What is common to all the deaths in India is the fact that patients reported the disease at least five days late. "Swine flu is like any other disease like malaria. They all can kill if you come too late. Also in the inception stage, if multiple-organ failure sets in, it becomes fatal," warns Khusrav Bajan, Critical Care Specialist.

So medical advice stays practical -- when in doubt, visit your doctor.

Tags: H1N1, Swine flu, virus

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