People who are obese but otherwise healthy may be at special risk of severe complications and death from the new H1N1swine flu virus, U.S. researchers reported on Friday.

They described the cases of 10 patients at a Michigan hospital who were so ill they had to be put on ventilators. Three died. Nine of the 10 were obese, seven were severely obese, including two of the three who died.

The study, published in advance in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's weekly report on death and disease, also suggests doctors can safely double the usual dose of oseltamivir, Roche AG's antiviral drug sold under the Tamiflu brand name.

"What this suggests is that there can be severe complications associated with this virus infection, especially in severely obese patients," said CDC virus expert Dr. Tim Uyeki.

www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1053710520090711

I am telling you this is scary stuff.
A boy from kids school just died with it and his sister is in critical condition and they are both alittle overweight.
Also an older obese woman from town is being treated for it now..

My daughter had it two weeks ago, she was quarantined to the house for 5 days.  She had really bad symptoms on the first night and the day following, chills, sweats, sore throat and fever over 100 degrees. She went to the doc they prescribed Tamiflu and she started taking it within 24 hours of onset. The next two days she was fatigued but the other symptoms went away. By day four she was driving me nuts wanting to go out and have fun. 

I'm very glad she isn't obese and didn't have a more dangerous response to this flu.  Also very happy neither I nor my son got it!

Wash, wash wash your hands, cough into tissue or your elbow. It's transmitted by respiratory droplets so be aware!

Diane