At Least 114 U.S. Kids Dead From Swine Flu

Oct. 31 -- FRIDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- At least 114 U.S. children have now died from laboratory-confirmed H1N1 swine flu, including 19 during the past week -- the largest one-week increase since the outbreak began in April, U.S. health officials said Friday.

But these deaths are almost certainly an underestimation of the actual number, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during an afternoon press conference Friday.

"We can provide information on the number of laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations and deaths -- we know that that's an underestimation of the total," he said.

Of the children who have died, two-thirds had chronic health problems such as asthma, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, Frieden said.

"In a usual flu season, 90 percent of the deaths are among people over the age of 65. In H1N1, 90 percent of the deaths are in people under the age of 65," he said.

The swine flu continues to spread throughout the country; for most people the infections are mild to moderate. It is now widespread in 48 states, although there are signs it has begun to recede in some Southeastern states, he said.

Frieden said the latest statistics continue to show that H1N1 swine flu is a disease that afflicts younger people, and can be especially serious for those underlying medical conditions. "In the past two months, we have seen more hospitalizations in people under the age of 65 than in most entire flu seasons," he said.

"One of the things we have been surprised to see," Frieden added, "is that even among people who have an underlying condition, such as asthma or heart disease or lung disease, only half sought care for influenza-like illness. People with underlying conditions with fever and cough should see their [health-care] provider promptly."

While vaccine shortages persist, there are 26.6 million doses now in circulation, up from 16.1 million doses last week. The supply is "increasing steadily," said Frieden. "The gap between supply and demand is closing."