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H1N1 squelches seasonal flu in Minn.
At what should be peak season, there is little or no flu around Minnesota.
By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune
Last update: February 10, 2010 - 10:15 PM
In almost all ways it was a pretty typical January. There were sales, the usual thaw and the Vikings lost. But there was something missing -- the flu.
On Wednesday the Minnesota Department of Health reported that for the fourth week in a row there were no deaths from H1N1, and no hospitalizations for the second straight week.
Even more striking is the pandemic's silver lining -- it seems to have knocked out seasonal influenza altogether.
In a normal year seasonal flu would be peaking about now, but instead there are virtually no cases being reported in Minnesota or elsewhere.
"This was absolutely the quietest January influenza season we have seen in the last 40 years," said Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota.
The pandemic flu may or may not be over. The influenza virus in all its forms is highly unpredictable, and experts warn a third wave could appear between now and June -- or not.
"Flu is so fickle," said Dr. Greg Poland, an infectious disease expert at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
But experts are increasingly confident that, at least for now, H1N1 will be the only strain of flu around for the rest of this winter.
They also expect that next fall H1N1 will continue as the predominant flu strain around the globe, and they already are planning on that for the next vaccine. Each year the vaccine contains three of the flu strains that seem most likely to cause the seasonal outbreak.
Does that mean the H1N1 vaccine you already got will protect you next year as well?
Well, maybe, or maybe not. Experts say that between now and then the virus could mutate, and to prevent infection, everyone should get the new vaccine next fall.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/84073977.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4OW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUss
At what should be peak season, there is little or no flu around Minnesota.
By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune
Last update: February 10, 2010 - 10:15 PM
In almost all ways it was a pretty typical January. There were sales, the usual thaw and the Vikings lost. But there was something missing -- the flu.
On Wednesday the Minnesota Department of Health reported that for the fourth week in a row there were no deaths from H1N1, and no hospitalizations for the second straight week.
Even more striking is the pandemic's silver lining -- it seems to have knocked out seasonal influenza altogether.
In a normal year seasonal flu would be peaking about now, but instead there are virtually no cases being reported in Minnesota or elsewhere.
"This was absolutely the quietest January influenza season we have seen in the last 40 years," said Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota.
The pandemic flu may or may not be over. The influenza virus in all its forms is highly unpredictable, and experts warn a third wave could appear between now and June -- or not.
"Flu is so fickle," said Dr. Greg Poland, an infectious disease expert at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
But experts are increasingly confident that, at least for now, H1N1 will be the only strain of flu around for the rest of this winter.
They also expect that next fall H1N1 will continue as the predominant flu strain around the globe, and they already are planning on that for the next vaccine. Each year the vaccine contains three of the flu strains that seem most likely to cause the seasonal outbreak.
Does that mean the H1N1 vaccine you already got will protect you next year as well?
Well, maybe, or maybe not. Experts say that between now and then the virus could mutate, and to prevent infection, everyone should get the new vaccine next fall.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/84073977.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4OW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUss