Swine flu epidemic hits 300,000 children

Twice as many children as adults are hit by swine influenza. Up to every second children gets infected. Thousands of Danish children lies sick with influenza A (H1H1), and during the next months about 300.000 children will been hit by the disease. The Serum institute of the state judged that up to the half of all children in the age 5-14 years will get sick under the epidemi.

We expect that 40 percent of the children get sick. Maybe up to 50 percent, says Director Nils Strandberg Pedersen from serum institute of the state. Now experience the schools of the state half empty classrooms, because the pupils one by one lie sick with influenza. On Copenhagen International School in Hellerup north from Copenhagen, are the classrooms empty. 180 pupils get the influenza, and to avoid more infecting is the school closed until Monday. Worst hit are 6-10 grades, where every second study get sick. Adults shall care theirs children, as if they had a normal influenza, possession the Director from Serum institute of the state. Make sure, that they sick children get enough water, and take some clothes off them, so they not getting too hot. You shall not expect, that they eat so much, says Nils Strandberg Pedersen. He invites the adults to search a medic in following four situations: If the child doesn’t drink. If the child is hard to become connection with, when it’s woken up. If the child have difficulty by breathing. If the fever not falls after three-four days. But there is no reason to panic, sounds the warning. Despite the massive mention is influenza A not more dangerous for the children than the normal influenza. And the authorities expect none deaths at the children, there otherwise are healthy. Unlike Denmark become children in other Nordic countries vaccinated against the new influenza. The Health board can’t see a reason for do it home. There are none available vaccines before next year, said the director Jesper Fisker: And in a time with half empty schools is it important to keep, that the influenza is really gentle.