Flu activity in Ohio remains widespread

Published:  Saturday, November 7, 2009 (4 months, 1 week ago)
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The Allen County Health Department reports flu activity in Ohio remains widespread. Emergency room visits for flu-like symptoms continue to be high for this time of the year. However, the total number of visits has decreased slightly during this past week.
The health department will offer the H1N1 vaccine by appointment only again next week. Appointments are being scheduled for people who are in the CDC’s and Ohio Department of Health’s high priority groups. Call 419-228-INFO (4636) to schedule.
The target high priority groups for vaccine at this time includes: pregnant women; people who live with or care for children less than 6 months; all people 6 months to 24 years; health care and emergency services personnel with direct patient contact; and people 25 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions.
People who are not in the targeted high priority groups will have other opportunities to get the vaccine as more becomes available. People age 65 and older are not in the initial high priority groups because they have the lowest risk of becoming infected with the H1N1 virus compared to other age groups. People age 65 and older will be able to get the vaccine when H1N1 vaccine is more readily available later in the flu season. As soon as vaccine comes in, the health department will get it out to the community as quickly as it can.
This week, they were able to provide about 1,400 doses of vaccine to local doctor’s offices. The are able to vaccinate about 1,200 high risk people per week through appointments.
The Ohio Department of Health distributes H1N1 vaccine based on county population figures.
Nationally, many more individuals have been vaccinated for seasonal flu this season than at the same time last year. This is most likely due to the early availability of vaccine. Availability of seasonal flu vaccine may change as the season progresses. Officials are being told to look for additional seasonal flu vaccine availability in the coming weeks.
In past pandemics, “waves” of activity have been observed. The first wave is usually a smaller wave followed by a larger “peak” wave. Subsequent smaller waves can occur as well. Flu activity is widespread in most of the country at this time, which is highly unusual during regular seasonal flu for this time of year but not unexpected for a pandemic.
Nationally, flu activity is continuing to increase. It’s not possible to predict how long activity will remain high, when this wave will peak and when activity will begin to decline. Even after flu activity peaks during the current wave, it’s possible that other waves of influenza activity may occur – caused by either 2009 H1N1 viruses or regular seasonal flu viruses.
If caring for someone with H1N1, avoid being face-to-face with the sick person. When holding small children who are sick, place their chin on a shoulder.
If in a high risk group for complications from influenza, try to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with household members who are sick with influenza. Designate a person who is not at high risk as the primary caretaker of household members who are sick, if at all possible. Monitor oneself and household members for flu symptoms and contact a doctor or health care provider if symptoms occur.
The CDC reported Thursday the H1N1 virus itself has not shown any changes so far. This means most people who are infected with H1N1 will still have a mild illness. The vaccine provides good protection against the H1N1 virus that is circulating, and antiviral medicine for people who are seriously ill is still effective.

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