H1N1 still widespread but rate is declining in recent weeks

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December 10, 2009

By RONNIE ELLIS The Daily Independent Thu Dec 10, 2009, 04:21 PM EST

FRANKFORT — The H1N1 flu remains widespread in Kentucky but the rate of infection has slowed, according to state health officials.

“We are seeing a slowing down in the rate of H1N1 cases in Kentucky over the pattern of the last few weeks,” said Dr. William Hacker, the state’s public health commissioner. That’s good, Hacker said, not only because fewer people are afflicted with the virus but because it gives health care workers a respite.

“But it’s not going away,” Hacker warned. “While flu cases are not as active as at the end of October and in November, it’s still very active and we’re not through the flu season.”

The height of flu season typically falls in January and February and Hacker assumes an increase in flu cases during those months but he doesn’t know if it will be a second wave of the H1N1 – popularly known as “swine flu” – or the typical seasonal flu variety.

Hacker – who has repeatedly professed confidence in the H1N1 vaccine, saying he recommended one for his own grandchildren – said he “strongly recommend(s)” people receive the H1N1 vaccine, particularly those in target populations such as pregnant women, those between 6 months and 24 years old, health care workers and those with chronic underlying illnesses.

State epidemiologist Dr. Kraig Humbaugh said nearly all flu activity in Kentucky is attributable to H1N1.

“We’re not seeing sustained, circulating seasonal flu activity,” Humbaugh said. He said H1N1 symptoms are comparable in severity to seasonal flu symptoms for most reported patients and most patients are recovering without significant difficulty.

Still, there have been 36 deaths in Kentucky attributable to H1N1 illness. However, 30 of those victims suffered from underlying health problems. Three were pediatric deaths.

He said vaccine is becoming more easily available in Kentucky and some providers have begun offering the vaccine to persons other than those in target populations which in some areas have been largely vaccinated. Humbaugh said 1.13 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been allocated for Kentucky and 946,000 doses have been shipped.

There have been 9,200 calls to a state hotline (1-877-843-7727) manned by nurses from Norton Health Care who provide information on symptoms and treatment for the flu. Information is also available online at www.healthalerts.ky.gov.

Hacker urged the public not to neglect vaccination for seasonal flu, noting there is still time to be vaccinated before the typical height of seasonal flu season. He especially urged senior citizens and those with chronic health problems to get both flu vaccines and a pneumonia vaccine.

Thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year are attributable to seasonal flu.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.

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