Tweet
It's now seasonal ills hitting Tampa Bay area
By MARY SHEDDEN
mshedden@tampatrib.com
Published: January 11, 2010
TAMPA - Run down? Congested? Can't kick that burning cough?
It's probably not swine flu.
H1N1, the virus epidemic that has dominated health conversations for the past few months, has lost its standing as the major illness keeping Americans home sick from work and school.
More traditionel winter illnesses such as bronchitis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for children and the common cold are more prevalent, according to local, state and national health surveillance systems. And over-the-counter cold medecine sales are high.
In the past eight months, swine flu, or H1N1, has infected nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population. Most cases were mild, characterized by three to five days of a sore throat and aching-body symptoms.
Those catching colds and other viruses in the adenoviruses category have different symptoms, experts say, including swollen lymph nodes and membranes, a cough, a congested or runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea. The viruses can linger for weeks, increasing the risk of developing into more serious illnesses such as pneumonia, croup and bronchitis.
"Some of the viruses in town right now are worse than H1N1," said Warren McDougle, Hillsborough County Health Department epidemiologist.
Hillsborough health officials said lab tests results are one sign additional infections are on the rise. In the past month, the number of local samples tested for swine flu fell to 17 percent, from 100 percent. Though the illnesses were not swine flu, the people tested were experiencing a potentially serious illness, McDougle said. "Because the other viruses in the community transmit like the flu, do not let your guard down," he said.
The viruses in the air, such as the respiratory illness RSV, could magnify the risk for serious complications from H1N1, said Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We know that other circulating bacteria and viruses can cause other problems," he said.
State public health officials warn the swine flu threat isn't over and more flu illness is on the way. That's because the traditional flu season in Florida usually runs from the end of January through March.
The fall wave of swine flu appears to be over in Florida, state epidemiologists said in their weekly analysis. But flu activity is expected to continue for months, caused by 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses.
Data from the nation's last swine flu pandemic, in 1957, shows a second, wintertime increase in swine flu.
Seasonal flu is similar in its symptoms to swine flu, though body aches in swine flu may be slightly diminished. Swine flu tends to affect children and pregnant women more seriously. Seasonal flu attacks the elderly more than other groups.
Influenza is a hard-to-track infectious disease. It's estimated to cause about 36,000 deaths in the United States each year. This flu season's death toll may be lower, Skinner said. But officials are concerned that fatalities disproportionately affected people 50 years old and younger. The nearly 300 confirmed swine flu deaths of children 18 and younger are far higher than the normal seasonal flu fatality rates for that age group.
That has prompted health officials to continue to urge immunizations for seasonal and swine flu.
"I'm particularly concerned about the next wave" of swine flu, said Ryan Pedigo, Hillsborough County's director of public health preparedness.
"There is vaccine available."
As of Dec. 26, swine flu had led to the deaths of 187 Floridians and the hospitalization of 1,200 more statewide. CDC estimates show the pandemic has led to roughly 10,000 deaths between April and November.
Initial estimates show 20 percent to 30 percent of Hillsborough residents were vaccinated against the swine flu in 2009 in a nationwide government-backed immunization program.
There may be a major difference in who received the various vaccines. Seasonal flu shots target the elderly. But the H1N1 vaccine program was aimed at those 24 and younger first. The H1N1 vaccine is widely available to those 6 months and older at public health clinics, private doctors and retail pharmacies.
Seasonal flu vaccine was released last fall, and nearly the entire national supply has been used. The supply in Hillsborough is limited to about 100 to 200 adult doses available at the county's seven public health immunization clinics, program director Margaret Ewen said. Some seasonal flu vaccine for children also remains.
There may be seasonal flu vaccines available at some retail pharmacies, but Skinner suggests people call ahead of time, or look for availability at sites such as www.findaflushot.com.
The best plan to stay healthy is fastidious hand washing, coughing into your elbow and wiping common surfaces clean, Pedigo said.
"No disease should be taken lightly. Those recommendations our moms told us ... (are) probably still the best way to stop the spread of disease," he said.
Reporter Mary Shedden can be reached at (813) 259-7365.
By MARY SHEDDEN
mshedden@tampatrib.com
Published: January 11, 2010
TAMPA - Run down? Congested? Can't kick that burning cough?
It's probably not swine flu.
H1N1, the virus epidemic that has dominated health conversations for the past few months, has lost its standing as the major illness keeping Americans home sick from work and school.
More traditionel winter illnesses such as bronchitis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for children and the common cold are more prevalent, according to local, state and national health surveillance systems. And over-the-counter cold medecine sales are high.
In the past eight months, swine flu, or H1N1, has infected nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population. Most cases were mild, characterized by three to five days of a sore throat and aching-body symptoms.
Those catching colds and other viruses in the adenoviruses category have different symptoms, experts say, including swollen lymph nodes and membranes, a cough, a congested or runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea. The viruses can linger for weeks, increasing the risk of developing into more serious illnesses such as pneumonia, croup and bronchitis.
"Some of the viruses in town right now are worse than H1N1," said Warren McDougle, Hillsborough County Health Department epidemiologist.
Hillsborough health officials said lab tests results are one sign additional infections are on the rise. In the past month, the number of local samples tested for swine flu fell to 17 percent, from 100 percent. Though the illnesses were not swine flu, the people tested were experiencing a potentially serious illness, McDougle said. "Because the other viruses in the community transmit like the flu, do not let your guard down," he said.
The viruses in the air, such as the respiratory illness RSV, could magnify the risk for serious complications from H1N1, said Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We know that other circulating bacteria and viruses can cause other problems," he said.
State public health officials warn the swine flu threat isn't over and more flu illness is on the way. That's because the traditional flu season in Florida usually runs from the end of January through March.
The fall wave of swine flu appears to be over in Florida, state epidemiologists said in their weekly analysis. But flu activity is expected to continue for months, caused by 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses.
Data from the nation's last swine flu pandemic, in 1957, shows a second, wintertime increase in swine flu.
Seasonal flu is similar in its symptoms to swine flu, though body aches in swine flu may be slightly diminished. Swine flu tends to affect children and pregnant women more seriously. Seasonal flu attacks the elderly more than other groups.
Influenza is a hard-to-track infectious disease. It's estimated to cause about 36,000 deaths in the United States each year. This flu season's death toll may be lower, Skinner said. But officials are concerned that fatalities disproportionately affected people 50 years old and younger. The nearly 300 confirmed swine flu deaths of children 18 and younger are far higher than the normal seasonal flu fatality rates for that age group.
That has prompted health officials to continue to urge immunizations for seasonal and swine flu.
"I'm particularly concerned about the next wave" of swine flu, said Ryan Pedigo, Hillsborough County's director of public health preparedness.
"There is vaccine available."
As of Dec. 26, swine flu had led to the deaths of 187 Floridians and the hospitalization of 1,200 more statewide. CDC estimates show the pandemic has led to roughly 10,000 deaths between April and November.
Initial estimates show 20 percent to 30 percent of Hillsborough residents were vaccinated against the swine flu in 2009 in a nationwide government-backed immunization program.
There may be a major difference in who received the various vaccines. Seasonal flu shots target the elderly. But the H1N1 vaccine program was aimed at those 24 and younger first. The H1N1 vaccine is widely available to those 6 months and older at public health clinics, private doctors and retail pharmacies.
Seasonal flu vaccine was released last fall, and nearly the entire national supply has been used. The supply in Hillsborough is limited to about 100 to 200 adult doses available at the county's seven public health immunization clinics, program director Margaret Ewen said. Some seasonal flu vaccine for children also remains.
There may be seasonal flu vaccines available at some retail pharmacies, but Skinner suggests people call ahead of time, or look for availability at sites such as www.findaflushot.com.
The best plan to stay healthy is fastidious hand washing, coughing into your elbow and wiping common surfaces clean, Pedigo said.
"No disease should be taken lightly. Those recommendations our moms told us ... (are) probably still the best way to stop the spread of disease," he said.
Reporter Mary Shedden can be reached at (813) 259-7365.
