The H1N1 virus could sicken up to 40 percent of Americans in the next two years, according to U.S. health officials. Even while the vaccine is expected to land this fall, if the campaign is unsuccessful, hundreds of thousands people could die, reported msnbc.com.
U.S. officials expect to have as many as 160 million H1N1 vaccinations in October. Testing of the drug is also expected to begin shortly.
There have been 43,771 cases of swine flu in the U.S. with 302 cases resulting in death, according to the CDC Web site. Nearly 36,000 people typically die from the flu and surrounding complications during a normal flu season, according to an estimate by the American Medical Association.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that one-third of the world’s population could become infected with the H1N1 virus over the next two years.
Drug manufacturers predict the virus may mutate over time. Despite this, the companies are working to create vaccines before the start of the school year.
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