How is the H1N1 (swine) flu different than the seasonal flu?
The seasonal flu is caused by a series of viruses that circulate each flu season (December – March in the Northwest). Seasonal flu is passed from person to person and may cause mild to severe illness. Every year, an average of 36,000 people die of the seasonal flu. Most hospitalizations and deaths occur in people over 65 years old. The H1N1 flu is caused by a new virus that was first detected in April 2009. H1N1 is spread the same way as the seasonal flu – person to person. H1N1 appeared to affect youth (people under 25) and people with underlying health conditions more severely than the seasonal flu. The 2010 – 2011 flu vaccine will protect against the seasonal flu virus and the H1N1 virus.
