H1N1 Vaccine update: 10/30/09:

We have been advised by New York State Health Commissioner Richard Daines, MD that because of manufacturing delays, swine flu vaccine will not reach physicians' offices in New York State until mid-November at the earliest. Please continue to check back here for further updates.

A New Influenza Virus

Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that was first detected in April, 2009. The virus is infecting people and is spreading from person-to-person, sparking a growing outbreak of illness in the United States. An increasing number of cases are being reported internationally as well.

It's thought that novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread; mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus.

Certain groups are at particularly high risk of severe disease or bad outcomes if they get the flu:

• Pregnant women
• Young children, especially those under 12 months of age
• The elderly
• People with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease
• People with HIV infection
• People with chronic diseases
• People taking immune suppressing drugs, such as cancer chemotherapy or anti-rejection drugs for transplants
• People in these groups should seek medical care as soon as they get flu symptoms.