Persons with Disabilities: The term “disability” refers to limited physical or cognitive capacity. It includes people with neurological and neuro-developmental conditions, such as disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle (e.g., cerebral palsy, epilepsy/seizure disorders, stroke, intellectual disability/mental retardation); moderate to severe developmental delay; muscular dystrophy; and spinal cord injury. These chronic conditions interfere with functional capacity. “Disability” also includes people with other chronic health conditions that interfere with functional capacity.
Having a disability alone may not place someone at higher risk for complications from the H1N1 virus, but other factors may put a person with disabilities at higher risk. You may be at risk if you are a:
•Young child
•Pregnant woman
•Person with arthritis
•Person with asthma
•Person with cancer
•Person with diabetes
•Person with heart disease
•Person with HIV/AIDS
Among people with disabilities, the following groups are at higher risk of acquiring the H1N1 infection:
•People who have difficultly breathing – (ventilator users and individuals with asthma and other respiratory conditions – this could include individuals with a range of disabilities such as intellectual and developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, seizure disorders, and metabolic conditions).
•People who have difficulty fighting infections or who are immunocompromised – (individuals with HIV, cancer, and other types of immune suppression, or individuals using immunosuppressive medications).
•People of any age who have chronic health conditions (heart disease, metabolic [i.e., diabetes], renal, hepatic, hematological [i.e. sickle cell anemia], pulmonary, or neurological disorders).
•People who have pharmacological dependency.
•People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy due to their risk of developing Reye’s Syndrome.
•Children prone to dehydration from poor nutritional and fluid intake caused by prolonged vomiting and diarrhea, or underlying metabolic conditions.
Disability groups at risk of getting flu and/or having unrecognized flu symptoms include:
•People who have limited mobility or who cannot limit coming into contact with others who are infected, like staff and family members
•People who have trouble understanding or practicing preventive measures such as hand washing
•People who may not be able to communicate symptoms of illness
•People who may not be monitored closely for symptoms of illness