Local asthma camp canceled as swine flu precaution

By Mary Manning

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | 11:34 a.m.

The American Lung Association in Nevada said it made a difficult decision in cancelling its popular annual overnight camp for children with asthma as a precaution against spreading the new H1N1 flu, also known as swine flu.

Camp SuperKids was scheduled to run from Aug. 7 through Aug. 9, said Allison Newlon Moser, executive director of the American Lung Association of Nevada. Camps in Northern Nevada were held earlier this summer without incident, she said.

However, over the summer months 52 camps in 20 states have reported outbreaks of the H1N1 virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition, the CDC lists Nevada in the second highest of six levels for spread of the H1N1 virus, which has primarily spread in children and young adults ages 5 years to 24 years, Moser said.

"We know this is extremely disappointing for our campers and their families, our camp volunteers and our camp sponsors," Moser said. Asthmatic children already suffer from impaired lung function, she said, making them more vulnerable to the new flu strain.

The American Lung Association staff has been calling and e-mailing campers and volunteers and will fully refund all fees, Moser said.

All children, especially those with chronic asthma and bronchitis, should receive vaccinations to prevent disesases, Moser said.

There are indications that the novel H1N1 flu virus is more virulent than previously thought, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature. The World Health Organization declared the H1N1 flu at pandemic levels in May.

In contrast to the run-of-the-mill seasonal flu viruses, the H1N1 virus has an ability to infect cells deep in the lungs, where it can cause pneumonia and, in severe cases, death. Seasonal viruses typically infect only cells in the upper respiratory system, although deaths linked to flu in the United States average 36,000 a year.

Yoshihiro Kawacka, a virologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and leader of the international team that authored the report, said the virus's ability to infect the lungs is similar to those of other pandemic viruses, notably the 1918 virus, which killed tens of millions of people at the end of World War I.

The Southern Nevada Health District had received confirmation of 145 novel H1N1 cases in Clark County as of July 10. The next report is due July 21. Three people infected with the novel virus in Clark County have died and three are still hospitalized in serious condition, the health district report said.

President Barack Obama announced in early July that the federal government is preparing a major vaccination campaign beginning as early as October that will probably focus on school-aged children.

Other precautions people can take to protect themselves, their children and families include frequent and thorough handwashing, staying home if someone has symptoms of illness such as fever, cough and aches, and covering noses and mouths when sneezing or coughing.

For more information about the American Lung Association's camp or camper refunds or for information about other programs, call (702) 431-6333, or visit www.lungnevada.org.