Sep 15, 2009 12:04 am US/Eastern
H1N1 Survivor Speaks To WJZ
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) ―
-
-
H1N1 almost killed Ron Lalich.
CBS
A deadly flu virus is once again rearing its ugly head in our schools, hospitals and workplaces. The H1N1 virus or swine flu appeared last spring then quieted over the summer.
Mary Bubala explains why H1N1 is a flu to fear.
H1N1 almost killed Ron Lalich.
"I was so weak. Dizzy, blurred vision," said Lalich. "Throughout that night, I realized I was deathly ill. I mean, I realized it anyway, but it got even worse."
He had no idea he had what so many now fear: the virus initially referred to as swine flu.
The Baltimore County resident contracted the highly contagious virus from his grandchildren.
"It's like getting hit by a train. That's pretty much what it is. You are pretty much devastated. You can't do anything. When I finally got out of bed to try to walk, I could have crawled easier," Lalich said.
Since it first emerged in April, the H1N1 epidemic has sickened more than one million Americans and killed about 500.
The H1N1 virus is tough and tenacious. The trouble is none of us have antibodies to fight it and medical experts fear the virus could mutate.
"We've got a huge population who don't have immunity. It's mild right now but if it goes through mutational change as it's prone to do, it might come out as a more virulent organism," said Dr. Richard Boehler, Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. Joseph Medical Center.
In that scenario, millions would get sick, schools would close and the death rate would soar.
Hospitals like St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson are preparing for the worst.
"We treat everyone with those types of symptoms as if they have H1N1 until proven otherwise and you have to be aggressive like that," said Boehler.
Lalich was in isolation at the hospital for a week. H1N1 hit him harder because of underlying medical issues.
"At the end of four days, they said, `You made it' like it was not a done deal, not a sure thing," he said.
He has advice for others who may be in the same situation.
"It is so devastating. I would stay away from crowds, eliminate the possibilities as best I could. They say wash your hands, of course," Lalich said.
Those who have already been exposed would stand the best chance of staying healthy a second time around.
The federal government issued a warning to small businesses to prepare to operate with fewer employees this fall because of the inevitable spread of H1N1.
On Tuesday,
Adam May will look at the race against time to create the best vaccine to protect as many people as possible from the dangerous virus.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
