CDC: H1N1 Virus Killed Thousands Last Year

01/18/2010

One of the most important reasons for maintaining the best possible health insurance coverage is to guard against sudden illnesses or injuries and the high costs and long-term medical issues that can come with them.

This is especially the case when considering the H1N1 virus that continues to draw concern from health professionals around the world. In fact, this week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that at least 39 million Americans have been affected with the virus, and possibly as many as 80 million.

The statistics are said to be difficult to determine because a relatively large number of people manage to get well without seeking medical treatment or reporting their symptoms. Still, the virus is said to have killed as many as 16,400 Americans since the flu outbreak started last April.

On top of the fatalities, as many as 362,000 people nationwide are thought to have been hospitalized with H1N1 symptoms. The virus is especially dangerous to the oldest and youngest people, and to those with compromised immune systems.

Overall, this is just one example of why it's important to carry some form of health insurance, especially for families with small children.

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