H1N1 flu update from King County Public Health: Fewer cases

If you’ve been worried about H1N1 flu – a bit of good news from King County Public Health – the number of cases is on the decline. KCPH just sent a news release with the newest info – read on:

Following the relentless increase in H1N1 influenza (swine flu) illness in King County since late August, cases of H1N1 influenza are now decreasing – at least temporarily – from a peak in late October. Although the future course of the epidemic remains uncertain, based on the experience of the H1N1 outbreak during the Southern Hemisphere’s flu season, illness would be expected to continue to spread locally among those who are not immune during the coming weeks.

“The break in the rising rate of infection gives us more time to vaccinate people who don’t yet have immunity, especially given the slow start to vaccinations because of the national vaccine shortage,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director & Health Office, Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Availability of vaccine will continue to improve in coming weeks, and we encourage people who are recommended to receive vaccine to seek it out. Eventually, everyone who wants vaccine will have an opportunity to get it.”

While down from the previous two weeks, emergency departments continue to see an elevated number of visits for flu-like illness similar to spring outbreak levels. Recent hospitalizations for H1N1, while lower in number than in October, still remain above the levels seen in the spring.

An estimated 190,000 people in King County who are at high-risk for complications have already been vaccinated for H1N1 influenza. Additionally, an estimated 132,000 people have had H1N1 influenza between April and October 17, 2009. These factors may be contributing to the slowing of infection rates overall, yet more vaccination will help to protect the community and those most at risk.

People who are recommended to receive H1N1 vaccine should continue to seek it. Vaccine supply is gradually improving each week, and it is expected that eventually there will be enough vaccine in King County for anyone who wants it.

Given delays in supply, H1N1 vaccine is presently reserved for people in priority groups:

* Pregnant women
* People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
* People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
* People between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems
* Health care and emergency workers

Given the limited supply, Public Health’s current focus is on getting most of the available vaccine to health care providers, so that they can vaccinate patients who are most at risk. To provide another option for people prioritized to receive H1N1 vaccine, Public Health is allocating a limited portion of vaccine supplies for distribution more widely through pharmacies.

Visit the Public Health H1N1 influenza website at www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1 for updates on vaccine availability in the community or call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464), which is staffed with operators to answer questions from King County residents about H1N1 influenza. Hours of operation with operators are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with special 24-hour nurse line service extended over this weekend for people with flu seeking medical care advice. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day.

Flu illness activity

Indications are that flu activity has peaked for now in King County :

· The approximate daily numbers of visits for flu-like illness to King County emergency departments have fallen by half from a high of over 250 visits per day, but remain significantly elevated and are now in a range similar to that seen during the spring H1N1 outbreak. Similarly, the proportion of patients seen in emergency departments with flu-like illness has decreased from a peak of 10% to 5% this week.

· Hospitalizations for H1N1 have been decreasing for the past few weeks, but they are still above the peak of the spring outbreak.

The county’s list of pharmacies with vaccine, by the way, shows clinics (for the “high risk,” ages 9 and up) at the West Seattle Walgreens stores next Tuesday.

5 Replies to "H1N1 flu update from King County Public Health: Fewer cases"

  • sacatosh November 20, 2009 (11:31 am)

    … or perhaps those of us who are sick haven’t been to see a doctor. I know many people who are sick right now with the flu. General medical consensus is if it’s the flu, it’s H1N1. And if you’re not deathly ill, there’s not much to be done but slug through it.

  • AJP November 20, 2009 (4:32 pm)

    That could be part of it, people are finally getting that message.

  • seven November 20, 2009 (6:23 pm)

    ohhh thank god i can finally leave the house….

  • Meg November 20, 2009 (7:04 pm)

    Just got diagnosed Wednesday. In my case I went to the doctor thinking I had bronchitis or asthma coming back not h1n1. Overall if resting not too bad.

  • JH November 20, 2009 (10:47 pm)

    My doctor didn’t test me-he said only if I had a fever of 104, and even then it’s so expensive!

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