MHA Press Room

H1N1 death rate higher for Indians, Alaska natives

American Indians and Alaska Natives have died from the H1N1 flu at a rate four times greater than other Americans, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. The report looked at H1N1 deaths in 12 states that are home to about half of the nation's American Indians and Alaska Natives, and counted 42 people in those groups who died of H1N1 or its complications by mid-November.

That was a rate of nearly 4 out of every 100,000 people for that group, compared to a rate of about 1 per 100,000 for everyone else. Since the emergency of the pandemic H1N1 flu strain last spring, CDC estimates that 50 million Americans have been infected, 200,000 people have been hospitalized and nearly 10,000 have died.

H1N1 death rate highest among patients over 50, CA study finds

In a study of 1,088 California patients with 2009 H1N1 flu reported in the Nov. 4 Journal of the American Medical Association, infants had the highest hospitalization rates and patients over 50 had the highest death rate. About 30% of patients were admitted to an intensive care unit.

The study by the California Department of Public Health examined H1N1 flu cases reported between April 23 and Aug. 11 involving patients who were hospitalized or died. Their median age was 27, and 32% were children. About 60% of children and 72% of adults had chronic health conditions associated with increased risk for severe flu.