Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases March 16, 2010 +

[Pathfinder]

Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases
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New America Media, News Report, Anthony D. Advincula, Posted: Mar 16, 2010<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>newstrust_icon = 'http://newstrust.net/images/ntbuttons/newstrust_review_link.gif';</SCRIPT>

ATLANTA ? Contrary to perception in the South and other parts of the country that H1N1 virus has already ebbed in recent months, health department officials here reported an unusual uptick in flu cases and warned that the H1N1 pandemic is far from over.

The last week of February alone saw 36 people hospitalized because of H1N1 and seasonal flu. In the first week of March the number had almost doubled, rising to 63. The victims, at least in DeKalb County, have been mostly people of color and women. As of March 4, there have been 66 seasonal flu and H1N1-related deaths in Georgia.

?The H1N1 is still here,? said Dr. Elizabeth S. Ford, district health director of Atlanta?s DeKalb County Board of Health, at an ethnic media press conference on March 4. ?The local and state health agencies will continue to monitor this trend.? The press event was organized by New America Media and sponsored by AIR, a nonprofit social science research organization.

Grappling with budget cuts, a shortage of vaccines, and an insufficient public health workforce, Ford attributed the spike of H1N1 and seasonal flu fatalities in Georgia to its low vaccination rate. In DeKalb County alone, the third most populated county in the Atlanta area, only 7 percent of the population got the vaccine since the 2009 H1N1 outbreak.

?There are 760,000 residents in DeKalb County ? and the population count is more than double during daytime ? but less than 55,000 got vaccinated,? said Ford, adding that she was disappointed that the vaccines arrived late.
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Full article at:
http://news.newamericamedia.org/new..._id=e252c5fb66aa635e524d9569724d7f18&from=rss

 

[tetano]

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

The number of hospitalizations related to the 2009 H1N1 novel influenza virus is increasing throughout the state of Georgia.

?We have had seven hospitalizations and two deaths of Henry County residents since Jan. 1,? said Hayla Hall, risk communicator at District 4 Health Services, which includes Henry County.

The Georgia Department of Community Health reported 80 H1N1-related hospitalizations for the week of March 3-9, more than double the cases reported the week prior. Thirty-eight H1N1-related hospitalizations were reported between Feb. 24 and March 2, but 80 such hospitalizations were reported between March 3rd and 9th.

According to the department, the number of hospitalizations is the highest weekly count since September 2009, and the second highest since April 2009, when the department began keeping the records.

http://www.mycountypaper.com/henrynews/headlines/88312522.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

GA H1N1 cases continue to spike
Posted: Mar 18, 2010 5:57 PM EDT
Updated: Mar 18, 2010 5:57 PM EDT

ALBANY, GA (WALB) ? Georgia is seeing an increase in hospitalizations from H1N1.

In the last week, the number of swine flu hospitalizations in the state doubled to 80. There have been two million cases of the H1N1 virus in the United States from January through the end of February. Health officials say in the latest spike, the people coming down with the virus aren't the typical patient.

More at; http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12166517

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

Swine Flu Hospitalizations Up In Georgia

Posted By - Gary Franklin

Last Updated On: 3/25/2010 1:36:21 AM

ATLANTA (AP) -- Health officials say swine flu hospitalizations
in Georgia are up to their highest level since the fall.

About 70 to 80 hospitalizations were reported in each of the
past two weeks -- the most since September,

more at; http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=142139&catid=3

 

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

And it's been over 2 weeks since they've updated their website.
http://dch.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,31446711_148304655,00.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases

10 locals hospitalized for swine flu since May

By Jeff Bishop

The Times-Herald

Anyone who has put off getting an H1N1 vaccination may want to schedule one, particularly those who have complicating chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma.

Georgia is seeing a spike in swine flu hospitalizations, Associated Press reports. Georgia has recorded the most hospitalizations in the nation for three straight weeks.

"We are keeping up with the numbers," said Hayla Hall, spokesperson for District 4 Health Services.

"We have had 70 hospitalizations since May 2009" in District 4, she said. Ten of those were Coweta residents, she said.

"We have had 11 total deaths for the district since May 2009," said Hall. "Six of the 11 have occurred since January of this year. Two Coweta residents have died from influenza-associated illness."

One passed in October 2009, the other died earlier this month.

"I also have a letter written to go to all school systems tomorrow from Dr. Michael Brackett," District 4 Health Services director, Hall said.

http://www.times-herald.com/Local/10-locals-hospitalized-for-swine-flu-since-May-1066562

 

[tetano]

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases March 16, 2010 +

INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) (27): USA (GEORGIA)
*********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Mon 29 Mar 2010
Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution [edited]
<http://www.ajc.com/health/georgia-sees-spike-in-416510.html?cxtype=rss_health_82119>


Georgia is seeing a spike in swine flu [influenza pandemic (H1N1)
virus infection] hospitalizations, having the most in the country for
3 weeks in a row, federal health officials said Monday [29 Mar 2010].
It is too early to say whether Georgia or the country are seeing
another wave of the illness, which had diminished across the nation
for several months, the officials said.

But the number of people being hospitalized in Georgia equals the
number of pandemic (H1N1) hospitalizations when the disease peaked
here last September [2009]. Officials stressed that no other state is
seeing such an increase. In the 1st 2 weeks of March [2010], Georgia
had 80 and 72 hospitalizations respectively, according to the state
Department of Community Health. In contrast, the 1st week of February
2010 saw 17 hospitalizations.

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] was
so concerned about the Georgia situation that it sent a team of
researchers to investigate. CDC officials held a news conference
Monday [29 Mar 2010] that focused on the Georgia problem. Georgia's
increase is reflected to some degree in other southeastern states but
not in other parts of the country, she said. She described the illness
as "circulating intensely" here.

Georgia has one of the lowest immunization rates for pandemic (H1N1)
influenza, Schuchat said. State officials point out that the state's
immunization rate for children, however, is above average for the
country. "Most of the hospitalizations that we've seen have occurred
in ... adults with underlying conditions that put them at higher risks
of severe influenza," Schuchat said. Underlying conditions include
diabetes and heart disease.

The state health department, as well as county health departments,
have been boosting their efforts to get people vaccinated, stressing
that there is still an abundance of free vaccine. Last month [February
2010], the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Georgia had more
than 2.5 million doses of swine flu vaccine left. Less than 1/3rd of
Georgia's total allocation of 3.5 million doses -- 978 092 doses --
had been administered, according to the state. The problem has been
one of timing. Essentially, by the time the vaccine was widely
available, the flu -- and public interest -- had peaked. Neither
Georgia nor the nation is seeing a significant increase in swine
flu-related deaths, and there is no indication the virus has mutated
into a more dangerous form, officials said

Pandemic (H1N1) influenza first appeared last April [2009] and has
hospitalized 1012 Georgians and killed 60.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[It would be interesting to compare the demographics of the population
of the state of Georgia with those of other states to determine
whether there are any age-related factors which might be responsible
for the current spike in hospitalizations in the state.

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,81988

 

[curious1]

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases March 16, 2010 +

I'm confused about something. Many of the media articles state: "In the 1st 2 weeks of March [2010], Georgia had 80 and 72 hospitalizations respectively". But when I am looking at the reports for those weeks here: http://dch.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,31446711_148304655,00.html the numbers don't add up to 80 and 72 hospitalizations.

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Georgia Worries About Uptick in H1N1 Cases March 16, 2010 +

Agreed. The statements in the media attributed to the Dept of Health no longer match the Dept of Health published figures. Something odd happening. See also http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143760