Swine flu cases in Michigan are raising the question about what role obesity plays in some people with infections become seriously ill. It has been brought to our attention that a large number of people who have gotten extremely ill with the swine flu infection are either obese or extremely obese.

However, health officials disregard the role of obesity in the severity of the infection. According to them, people with swine flu are getting extremely ill due to the fact that heavy people tend to have asthma and other conditions that make them more susceptible. Obesity alone has never been seen as a risk factor for seasonal flu.
In the meantime, it is important to note that the government is about to spend an additional $1 billion in ordering swine flu vaccination.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Sunday she will announce Monday that Washington has approved another billion dollars to buy components of the vaccine. Sebelius said that research is under way to provide a safe and effective vaccine to fight a flu strain that could be a pandemic.

The Health and Human Services is gearing up for the falls flu season. She claims that experts are on the lookout for clues in terms of how serious the U.S. flu season is likely to be.

“Clinicians need to be aware that severe complications can occur in patients with the novel H1N1 virus, particularly in extremely obese patients,” said Dr. Tim Uyeki, a flu expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31866883/ns/health-swine_flu/

Tags: obesity, swine flu