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H1N1 flu season has begun, says Shiawassee County Health Department
By Liz Shaw | Flint Journal
October 13, 2009, 8:30AM
OWOSSO, Michigan ?
Reports of an Owosso elementary school student sick with the H1N1 flu are just a sign of things to come as the fall flu season arrives, say health officials.
Since Sept. 1, Shiawassee County has had five lab-confirmed cases of H1N1, but health officials are no longer routinely testing suspected cases, so there's no way to know actual numbers.
"This case is the only one in the schools we've heard of right now. But do we think it's possible other children are staying home sick and also have influenza? Absolutely," said Shiawassee County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Courtney Herrick. "Health departments are not keeping track of individual cases anymore like we did in the spring, when we were still concerned about how it was spreading. But we know it's out there and we know it's spreading."
So far, absenteeism in the county's schools is sporadic and typical for this time of year, said Herrick.
Schools will not be closed due to H1N1. School closures will only occur if absentee rates reach 25 percent, which is the same procedure for any communicable disease.
Based on nationwide statistics, about 99 percent of tested influenza cases this year are turning out to be H1N1, said Herrick.
"It's also still pretty early for seasonal influenza, so if you do get the flu right now, it's likely that it is H1N1," said Herrick.
Just because it might be H1N1 is not a cause for alarm, said Herrick. Since it is a novel virus, more people are getting sick than what's usually seen with seasonal influenza, but the H1N1 flu actually appears to be less severe.
"The good news is the attack rate is higher but the mortality rates and severity are less than what we normally see with seasonal influenza,' said Herrick.
H1N1 is also more prevalent among the young, unlike seasonal flu.
A limited number of doses of the nasal mist form of the H1N1 vaccine are being distributed to health care providers for the highest risk groups, but the injectable form of the vaccine is not expected to arrive until the end of the month.
The Shiawassee County Health Department will schedule community clinics once more vaccine becomes available. However, the seasonal flu vaccine is currently available and people are advised to get both vaccines.
Meanwhile, people are advised to use the same safety precautions used to guard against the spread of any influenza: cover a cough, wash hands often and stay home for at least 24 hours after a fever.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/10/h1n1_flu_season_has_begun_says.html
By Liz Shaw | Flint Journal
October 13, 2009, 8:30AM
OWOSSO, Michigan ?
Reports of an Owosso elementary school student sick with the H1N1 flu are just a sign of things to come as the fall flu season arrives, say health officials.
Since Sept. 1, Shiawassee County has had five lab-confirmed cases of H1N1, but health officials are no longer routinely testing suspected cases, so there's no way to know actual numbers.
"This case is the only one in the schools we've heard of right now. But do we think it's possible other children are staying home sick and also have influenza? Absolutely," said Shiawassee County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Courtney Herrick. "Health departments are not keeping track of individual cases anymore like we did in the spring, when we were still concerned about how it was spreading. But we know it's out there and we know it's spreading."
So far, absenteeism in the county's schools is sporadic and typical for this time of year, said Herrick.
Schools will not be closed due to H1N1. School closures will only occur if absentee rates reach 25 percent, which is the same procedure for any communicable disease.
Based on nationwide statistics, about 99 percent of tested influenza cases this year are turning out to be H1N1, said Herrick.
"It's also still pretty early for seasonal influenza, so if you do get the flu right now, it's likely that it is H1N1," said Herrick.
Just because it might be H1N1 is not a cause for alarm, said Herrick. Since it is a novel virus, more people are getting sick than what's usually seen with seasonal influenza, but the H1N1 flu actually appears to be less severe.
"The good news is the attack rate is higher but the mortality rates and severity are less than what we normally see with seasonal influenza,' said Herrick.
H1N1 is also more prevalent among the young, unlike seasonal flu.
A limited number of doses of the nasal mist form of the H1N1 vaccine are being distributed to health care providers for the highest risk groups, but the injectable form of the vaccine is not expected to arrive until the end of the month.
The Shiawassee County Health Department will schedule community clinics once more vaccine becomes available. However, the seasonal flu vaccine is currently available and people are advised to get both vaccines.
Meanwhile, people are advised to use the same safety precautions used to guard against the spread of any influenza: cover a cough, wash hands often and stay home for at least 24 hours after a fever.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/10/h1n1_flu_season_has_begun_says.html