Flu Season Is Here

[Gold9472]

Flu reported in Yellowstone County ; vaccination urged

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/12/29/build/local/55-flu.inc

By DIANE COCHRAN
12/29/2005

A spike in the number of reported influenza cases in Yellowstone County indicates the 2005 flu season is under way, health officials said Wednesday.

"We doubled in a week," said Dr. Doug Moore, chief of public health for the Yellowstone City-County Health Department. "The numbers aren't real high, but it's probably a sign that we're going to see more activity over the next few weeks."

As of Wednesday, 12 cases of influenza had been reported in Yellowstone County. The first case was identified Dec. 8.

Across the state, influenza had been confirmed in 12 other counties by Wednesday, according to Elton Mosher, a health services specialist with the state Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Those counties were Sweet Grass, Park, Gallatin, Beaverhead, Cascade, Silver Bow, Powell, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Pondera, Flathead and Lincoln.

The highest concentrations of cases were in Sweet Grass and Gallatin counties.

Both influenza A and B have been confirmed in Yellowstone County. Mosher said influenza B is a less severe version of the virus than influenza A, and B usually shows up later in the flu season.

"We're seeing both circulating at the same time," he said.

The best way to avoid contracting the flu is to be immunized against it, Moore said. This year there is enough vaccine to go around.

"We still have vaccine left," Moore said. "It's not too late."

So far in 2005, about 44,000 people in Yellowstone County have been vaccinated against influenza, according to health department spokeswoman Barbara Schneeman.

"This is really good," Schneeman said. "People are being vaccinated."

Health officials were concerned that people would skip flu shots after a nationwide vaccine shortage last year. Vaccine recipients were prioritized in 2004, and only people in high-risk groups got shots.

"We gave about 24,000 vaccines last year," Schneeman said. "It was less than we usually give."

In 2003, when there was no shortage, about 36,000 shots were given.

Aside from being vaccinated, the best way to avoid coming down with the flu is to wash your hands regularly.

Schneeman urged people to prevent spreading the virus by staying home when they are sick and covering their noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing.

But, she said, people are contagious for between one and five days before experiencing symptoms.

Flu season generally arrives in Yellowstone County in late winter, although last year the first influenza case was identified on Dec. 2.

[Gold9472]

Flu bugging Utah
State is only one with status of widespread virus outbreak

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635172349,00.html

By Lois M. Collins
12/29/2005

If you've got aches, fever, chills and respiratory problems, you're in good company.

Laura Seitz, Deseret Morning NewsDaniel Coontz, R.N., listens to Elise Jensen's lungs in the Emergency Room of Primary Children's Medical Center on Wednesday. Utah has widespread influenza activity, including 81 flu-related hospitalizations so far this season — 43 of them in the past week. The number of cases is already above the peak level reached last season. And there's no indication that flu will wind down soon, according to health-care providers and state health officials.

Utah is the only state that shows "widespread" influenza activity on the map updated weekly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A number of surrounding states have regional and localized flu activity. Flu in the Eastern United States has been relatively mild.

But there's a lag time in reporting and then tabulating data, so numbers are likely an undercount — even more so since most people don't seek medical attention and don't become part of the count unless they are very, very ill. Even then, they may be treated without any tests to confirm presence of influenza virus.

State health officials emphasize there's no evidence of either pandemic flu or avian flu. The seasonal variety is prowling for victims, they say.

Most of Utah's flu activity is concentrated along the Wasatch Front. By Wednesday afternoon, the Salt Lake Valley Health Department expected the number of hospitalizations in Salt Lake County so far this season would reach "at least 60," spokeswoman Pam Davenport said.

Nearly all of those hospitalized belong to high-risk categories, such as being very young, older than age 65, pregnant or having a chronic illness like diabetes or heart disease, said Susan Mottice, state health department epidemiologist.

Between 25 percent and 28 percent of hospitalized cases in Salt Lake County appear to be "drift" cases, meaning that they are a slightly different form of the virus than was contained in the flu vaccine this year, she said.

But no antigen typing has been done locally, Davenport said, so talk of a rogue strain is speculation.

Dr. David N. Sundwall, Utah Department of Health director, said the best protection for those who have not yet been vaccinated against influenza is to do so. Although it won't prevent 100 percent of flu cases, it will reduce severity of symptoms in those who do catch influenza despite the vaccine. It takes about two weeks to offer its full protection; it offers some right away.

So far, 90 percent of the flu cases that the CDC has "typed" are strains covered by the vaccine, according to Mottice.

While the number of cases is higher than this time last year and growing, Utah's still not seeing what you would call an epidemic, department spokesman Cody Craynor said. Still, "we hope people will take this seriously."

The numbers "may be a harbinger of a more severe season," said Sundwall, who added that it could also peter out early.

State experts predict the season "probably will not be mild," Mottice added.

A graph of each flu season looks different, she said, making it impossible to predict: Some look like dunce caps with a steep increase and drop-off. Others look more like a bell curve. And occasionally, there are two consecutive curves as first one type then the other type run through a community.

The vast majority of current cases are type A, which is typical.

Also typical is the timing of the flu this year. It generally appears between Thanksgiving and Christmas, as it did this year. It could peak any time, although February is common.

On Wednesday, health officials gathered at a state health clinic to brief news media. Licensed practical nurse Kathleen Hogan spoke of the importance of prevention measures.

Deseret Morning News graphic "If you're sick," she said, "stay home. If you're coughing and sneezing, use a tissue and throw it away, then wash your hands. Or sneeze into your elbow. And do great hand washing."

Influenza-related deaths are not reportable to the health department unless they involve children, Sundwall said. And it's difficult to count because people often die not of influenza but of related complications, such as pneumonia.

People who believe they have influenza may want to see their doctor, said state health officials. There are prescription antiviral medications that can reduce severity and duration of symptoms, but they have to be given within two days of symptom onset. Otherwise, it's a matter of managing symptoms, including rest, drinking lots of liquid, avoiding alcohol and tobacco and taking medication to relieve symptoms.

For information on influenza or to track Utah's flu activity, go online to www.health.utah.gov/flu (http://www.health.utah.gov/flu).

[Gold9472]

Flu bug filling up ERs all across the state

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/news/local/122905a1_flu_outbreak

CLAUDINE LoMONACO
12/29/2005

Flu season has arrived in Arizona, including Tucson, and hospitals say their emergency waiting rooms are packed.

The emergency room at Tucson Medical Center usually sees from 240 to 260 patients a day. Yesterday, staffers saw 326, with waits running up to several hours.

The hospital's emergency room has seen a 20 percent increase from last December, when flu season traditionally strikes, said TMC spokesman Mike Letson. Most of the uptick is from people with flu-like symptoms.

State health officials counted 808 confirmed cases of flu in Arizona last week - double the number of cases reported the week before, The Associated Press reported.

Pima County accounted for 156 of the cases, up from 92 the week before, said Lisa Hulette, epidemiology manager for the Pima County Health Department.

"It's not unexpected," Hulette said. "It's exactly the right time of year for that to happen."

Cold weather that passed through Arizona prompted the spike, health officials told AP. They also say visitors seeking refuge from snow country or staying with family may have brought in viruses.

Earlier this week at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, AP reported people with sniffles in the emergency room waited up to 10 hours while doctors and nurses tended to heart attack or other more serious patients.

"We have been slammed," said Banner spokeswoman Nancy Neff. "But obviously, we've been doing our best to get people through as quickly as possible."

Cases of strep throat, croup, common colds and bronchitis also are showing up, lengthening the line of patients waiting for care.

Like influenza, strep and other respiratory illnesses are fairly common in the winter.

But doctors say it's especially problematic for asthma patients in metropolitan Phoenix, which is under an advisory for high pollution.

People suffering from asthma and other chronic ailments are more susceptible to influenza and other illnesses.

And although the flu season is in full swing, experts say it isn't too late for people to get a flu shot.