Please see our related story about the CDC’s report today about the key indicators trend for the pandemic flu.

The Washington Post

“The number of children who have died from the swine flu has jumped sharply as the virus continues to spread widely around the United States, striking youngsters, teenagers, young adults and pregnant women unusually often, federal officials said Friday.”

…”These pediatric deaths seem to be increasing substantially,” said Anne Schuchat, who heads the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

“While most of the children who have died have had other health problems that made them particularly vulnerable, such as asthma, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy, about 20 percent to 30 percent were otherwise healthy, Schuchat said.

“Between 46 and 88 children died from the seasonal flu in each of the last three years, so the fact that so many have already succumbed is disturbing, Schuchat said.”

Source: Washington Post, October 9, 2009

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Influenza Update for week ending October 3, 2o09