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Flu cases subside in Wilmington area
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>var collab_title = 'Flu cases subside in Wilmington area';</SCRIPT><!-- /HEADLINE --><!-- MAIN PHOTO --><!-- /MAIN PHOTO --><!-- BYLINE -->
By Vicky Eckenrode
Vicky.Eckenrode@StarNewsOnline.com
<!-- /BYLINE --><!-- PUBDATE -->Published: Monday, February 22, 2010 at 12:05 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 22, 2010 at 12:05 p.m.
( page all of 3 )
<!-- /PUBDATE -->
It?s the middle of flu season, but sniffles around Wilmington area have largely subsided.
Compared to recent years, the level of flu activity in the region and statewide is lower now, which health officials attribute to earlier circulation of the H1N1 virus.
But they are still keeping a wary eye for any possible resurgence.
?This time of the year, seasonal flu is usually worse, but we?re all thinking that we?ve vaccinated so many people that we?re in good shape,? said Janet McCumbee, personal health services manager for the New Hanover County Health Department.
The H1N1 virus has been the predominant strain of flu virus this season both national and in the state, crowding out typical seasonal flu strains.
?We think between the vaccinations we gave and the number of people that got sick ? maybe we?re going to be OK,? Brunswick County Health Director Don Yousey said.
Statewide, about 1 percent of patients had flu-like symptoms for the week ending Feb. 13 ? the latest figures available from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Resources.
That?s down significantly from September and October when 5-6 percent of patients in the state had the flu.
That activity has hovered near 1 percent in North Carolina since the beginning of the year.
With flu illnesses slowing down, Brunswick Community Hospital announced Monday it lifted a ban on visitors 18 and under the hospital imposed in September because the H1N1 virus activity was high among young people.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center?s similar visitation restriction remains in place but a hospital spokeswoman said a meeting was planned soon to discuss the issue.
This time last year ? before the H1N1 outbreaks started ? seasonal flu hit a peak of activity in late February.
Those peaks shift every year during the flu season, which is considered to last anytime between November and March.
The 2003-2004 season hit a high point in December with nearly 8 percent of the patients in the state with flu symptoms.
?Nationwide, we?re hearing that so many people got vaccinated or have had it already this season, that?s why we?re seeing the low rate now, which is great,? McCumbee said.
The New Hanover County Health Department gave out more than 17,000 H1N1 vaccines since the shots became available in October.
Unlike the lengthy waiting lists and special clinics of the fall when supplies were scarce for the new vaccine, the health department now has plenty of shots should people still want them, McCumbee said, adding that the department also has given out nearly 15,000 seasonal flu shots.
Brunswick County?s health department administered more than 20,000 H1N1 and seasonal flu shots ? the most the agency has ever done in a season, Yousey said.
Despite the wide coverage and low illness rates right now, health officials still are emphasizing vaccinations for college students in the state.
Student health centers have reported more flu illness in January and February than other health providers, and the college-age population was the group with the lowest level of H1N1 vaccinations in the state, according to the state Division of Public Health.
Officials have held a number of free vaccination clinics at college basketball games in recent days, including one at University of North Carolina Wilmington?s Trask Coliseum on Feb. 27.
Yousey said he hoped illnesses remain low and this unusual flu season wraps up quietly.
Nearly 90 people have died this season in connection with the flu, including some in the region.
?We lost some people, you never want that,? he said. ?But it could have been a lot worse.?
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100222/ARTICLES/100229945/1177?p=all&tc=pgall
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>var collab_title = 'Flu cases subside in Wilmington area';</SCRIPT><!-- /HEADLINE --><!-- MAIN PHOTO --><!-- /MAIN PHOTO --><!-- BYLINE -->
By Vicky Eckenrode
Vicky.Eckenrode@StarNewsOnline.com
<!-- /BYLINE --><!-- PUBDATE -->Published: Monday, February 22, 2010 at 12:05 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 22, 2010 at 12:05 p.m.
( page all of 3 )
<!-- /PUBDATE -->
It?s the middle of flu season, but sniffles around Wilmington area have largely subsided.
Compared to recent years, the level of flu activity in the region and statewide is lower now, which health officials attribute to earlier circulation of the H1N1 virus.
But they are still keeping a wary eye for any possible resurgence.
?This time of the year, seasonal flu is usually worse, but we?re all thinking that we?ve vaccinated so many people that we?re in good shape,? said Janet McCumbee, personal health services manager for the New Hanover County Health Department.
The H1N1 virus has been the predominant strain of flu virus this season both national and in the state, crowding out typical seasonal flu strains.
?We think between the vaccinations we gave and the number of people that got sick ? maybe we?re going to be OK,? Brunswick County Health Director Don Yousey said.
Statewide, about 1 percent of patients had flu-like symptoms for the week ending Feb. 13 ? the latest figures available from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Resources.
That?s down significantly from September and October when 5-6 percent of patients in the state had the flu.
That activity has hovered near 1 percent in North Carolina since the beginning of the year.
With flu illnesses slowing down, Brunswick Community Hospital announced Monday it lifted a ban on visitors 18 and under the hospital imposed in September because the H1N1 virus activity was high among young people.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center?s similar visitation restriction remains in place but a hospital spokeswoman said a meeting was planned soon to discuss the issue.
This time last year ? before the H1N1 outbreaks started ? seasonal flu hit a peak of activity in late February.
Those peaks shift every year during the flu season, which is considered to last anytime between November and March.
The 2003-2004 season hit a high point in December with nearly 8 percent of the patients in the state with flu symptoms.
?Nationwide, we?re hearing that so many people got vaccinated or have had it already this season, that?s why we?re seeing the low rate now, which is great,? McCumbee said.
The New Hanover County Health Department gave out more than 17,000 H1N1 vaccines since the shots became available in October.
Unlike the lengthy waiting lists and special clinics of the fall when supplies were scarce for the new vaccine, the health department now has plenty of shots should people still want them, McCumbee said, adding that the department also has given out nearly 15,000 seasonal flu shots.
Brunswick County?s health department administered more than 20,000 H1N1 and seasonal flu shots ? the most the agency has ever done in a season, Yousey said.
Despite the wide coverage and low illness rates right now, health officials still are emphasizing vaccinations for college students in the state.
Student health centers have reported more flu illness in January and February than other health providers, and the college-age population was the group with the lowest level of H1N1 vaccinations in the state, according to the state Division of Public Health.
Officials have held a number of free vaccination clinics at college basketball games in recent days, including one at University of North Carolina Wilmington?s Trask Coliseum on Feb. 27.
Yousey said he hoped illnesses remain low and this unusual flu season wraps up quietly.
Nearly 90 people have died this season in connection with the flu, including some in the region.
?We lost some people, you never want that,? he said. ?But it could have been a lot worse.?
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100222/ARTICLES/100229945/1177?p=all&tc=pgall