We have been posting warnings about the swine flu and how it will affect your au pair. Today, Reuters published an article (from the Center of Disease Control, CDC) with new statistics that indicate half of those hospitalized with the new H1N1 virus are under 25, a clear illustration that the pandemic is affecting the young disproportionately. Au pairs range in age from 18 - 25, the same group that the CDC is concerned about.
They said "reports from 27 U.S. states show 53 percent of people sick enough to be hospitalized with H1N1 flu are under the age of 25, with only 7 percent of hospitalizations among people 65 and older."
"This is really, really different from what we see with seasonal flu," the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat told reporters. "With seasonal flu, about 60 percent of hospitalizations occur in people 65 and over.
She stressed the report was incomplete but said if anything, it was underestimating the extent of the pandemic. An analysis of 292 deaths from 28 states showed that younger people than usual are also dying, she said."
About 24% of deaths from the Swine Flu are among this age group, young people under the age of 25.
If your au pair contracts the swine flu, will she pass it on to the family, and your young children? Should au pair agencies share their concern as well by informing host parents on their swine flu policies during this flu season? We don't see anything posted on the au pair agency websites that is current and that deals with the present flu season.
We would like to hear from au pair agencies about how they are handling this health crisis. Please call you agency today to find out what they are doing (or not) and please post your information here, on the www.aupairclearinghouse.com au pair consumer website.
No comments:
Post a Comment