Opportunistic Flu Virus

In light of the swine flu pandemic, many agencies have taken a fresh look at how the population is typically affected by flu outbreaks, and whether there are any specific factors that put someone at a higher risk of having a negative outcome should they be infected.

Chronic conditions, not surprisingly, significantly increase the risk when it comes to severity. This chart demonstrates a breakdown of chronic conditions by type among those aged 18-29.

We expect the elderly to struggle with viruses and illnesses that the younger population typically fights off without much difficulty, but what swine flu showed us is that when something new comes along, for which resistance has not yet been developed in the population at large, these chronic conditions can play a major factor.

The Opportunistic Flu Virus, via Effect Measure