H1N1 virus may have infected one million Americans

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert from the Vanderbilt University, said, "We knew diagnosed cases were just the tip of the iceberg.”

H1N1 and seasonal flu cases
There have been almost 28,000 reported cases of the H1N1 flu virus in the country, accounting for almost half of the reported cases in the world.

There virus has also led to 3,065 hospitalizations and accounts for 127 deaths in the country.

The large number of H1N1-infected Americans is relatively small compared to the estimated 15 to 60 million Americans infected by the seasonal flu virus, leading to around 36,000 deaths each year.

However, the H1N1 virus has been shown to infect young individuals compared to the seasonal flu virus affecting the very young and elderly.

From the reported cases of H1N1 virus, the average age of those infected, hospitalized and died are 12, 20 and 37, respectively.

Spread of the virus
The virus is also continuing to spread despite the end of the flu season. Dr. Daniel Jernigan, a medical epidemiologist from CDC's Influenza Division, stated, "The U.S. will likely see [swine] flu activity continue throughout the summer.”

The spread of the virus has been most prevalent in the Northeast and New England where very high numbers of patients have been coming in to hospitals and laboratories due to the virus.

Flu vaccine
CDC projects that flu vaccines, which will protect from both seasonal and swine flu, will be available by September this year.

Robin Robinson, an official overseeing manufacture and distribution of vaccines, said that there will be 60 million doses of the vaccine available.

Though the month of September is nearing, the vaccine still needs to be tested before they are given out to the public.