Thursday, May 21, 2009

ABC News: Some Older People May Be Immune to Swine Flu - ABC News

Older adults might have some pre-existing immunity to H1N1 swine flu, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Older adults might have some pre-existing immunity to H1N1 swine flu
(Getty Images)

Lab tests showed that some adults, particularly those older than 60, had antibodies against the new strain, but Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC cautioned against reading too much into the finding.

'We don't know yet what that will mean in terms of actual immunity or clinical protection,' she said on a conference call with reporters.

As the worldwide H1N1 flu outbreak progresses, evidence continues to point to a disproportionate number of infections in school-age children and younger adults.

Of the swine flu cases reported to the CDC, 64 percent are in 5- to 24-year-olds and just 1 percent are in individuals older than 65. That's an unusual pattern compared with seasonal influenza, which primarily affects the very young or old.

ABC News: Some Older People May Be Immune to Swine Flu

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