Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
In Alle-Kiski Valley, Swine flu likely worse than reports
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By Liz Hayes, VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Monday, October 19, 2009
Local school districts are reporting few confirmed cases of the novel H1N1 influenza -- also called swine flu -- but school and health officials say the actual number of undiagnosed cases likely is much higher.
In the Alle-Kiski Valley, only Franklin Regional, New Kensington-Arnold and Plum said a few of their students -- nine total -- have been diagnosed with H1N1.
Many more districts, including Allegheny Valley, Armstrong, Fox Chapel Area, Highlands, Kiski Area and Riverview, said they've had students with flu-like symptoms, and at least some of those illnesses likely were H1N1.
Officials from Burrell and Deer Lakes did not respond to requests for comment.
Guillermo Cole, spokesman for the Allegheny County Health Department, said many people with flu-like illnesses never seek treatment from a doctor or hospital. And even those who are professionally treated aren't necessarily tested to determine which strain of influenza they have.
"The identified cases are really only the tip of the iceberg," said Cole.
As of Oct. 8, the state Department of Health reported about 3,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 in Pennsylvania. The Valley's four counties (Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler and Westmoreland) all had confirmed cases; Allegheny and Butler counties each had one death from the virus.
Several local school districts said they've had cases of suspected H1N1 and definite cases of Influenza A that is believed to be H1N1.
According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99 percent of flu patients diagnosed with Influenza A have the subtype associated with H1N1.
Few districts affected
The flu isn't impacting schools uniformly.
Franklin Regional Middle School had an absenteeism rate of about 18 percent earlier this month compared with the usual rate of less than 5 percent absent, according to spokeswoman Shelley Shaneyfelt.
Only one student had a confirmed case of swine flu, but many had Influenza A, Shaneyfelt said.
"Based on our numbers (Wednesday and Thursday), we think we may have hit the peak," she said.
Plum School District spokeswoman Dawn Check said the district had five students with confirmed H1N1 by the end of the week, plus several others with flu symptoms.
New Kensington-Arnold also reported three cases, according to school nurse Michele Altieri.
Meanwhile, a few districts said they've not yet noticed any significant signs of illness.
"In fact, our attendance has been very good," Leechburg Area Superintendent Jim Budzilek said.
"Our attendance this year is actually higher than this time last year," said
Freeport Area spokesman Todd O'Shell.
Cole said it is unlikely any district will avoid the virus entirely: "At some point, every school is probably going to have high absenteeism due to H1N1.
Check with hospitals
The Allegheny County Health Department measures the spread of influenza by determining the percentage of people with flu-like symptoms treated in the emergency rooms of eight area hospitals.
Cole said hospitals reported about nine percent of their emergency patients had flu-like symptoms in the last week, up from two percent over the summer and about five percent last April when H1N1 first appeared.
"It's fairly high and very widespread," Cole said. "(The rate) certainly is higher than it was at the peak of the last regular flu season."
A typical flu season runs from late fall to early spring, usually peaking in late January or February. Cole said last year's flu season saw at most 6 percent of emergency patients seeking treatment for the flu, although he noted the 2008 flu season wasn't terribly severe.
Despite the hype and rapid spread, H1N1 is not a particularly severe flu, Cole said.
"It is so far a relatively mild to moderate illness," he said. "The virus hasn't mutated and become more virulent, which is a good thing.
"We're not seeing anywhere near the mortality rate that we see from regular flu, which has a greater impact on the elderly," Cole added.
What is unusual about H1N1 is the disproportionate rate at which children and young adults catch the virus. Cole said health experts believe older adults aren't as affected because they have partial immunity from long-ago exposure to similar flu strains.
Although the vast majority of H1N1 patients will recover without treatment or complications, the World Health Organization on Friday reported those with severe cases are more likely than usual flu patients to develop pneumonia.
The organization said worldwide research shows the sickest patients -- many of whom are relatively young and have no underlying health problems -- may rapidly develop bacterial infections and respiratory problems three to five days after symptoms first appear.
Deborah Spangler, a previously healthy 45-year-old Butler County woman, died in early September after her case of H1N1 flu was complicated by a bacterial infection.
'Hard to predict'
Cole said it's hard to guess when the worst of the H1N1 flu will pass, especially since the regular flu season should begin in another month. As H1N1 fades, regular flu cases could pick up and make it difficult for health officials to gauge the prevalence of either.
"It's really hard to predict how much influenza activity will occur," he said.
Local schools said they'll combat influenza as best they can -- dispensing hand sanitizer, urging students to cover coughs and sneezes, and singing the praises of thorough handwashing.
Officials said they are following state guidelines and encouraging parents to keep sick children home to limit the spread.
Despite some high absenteeism, local districts have not found it necessary to close their doors.
"Teachers and principals are aware that we expect a bit more absences than normal and students are being given time to make up homework and tests," said Fox Chapel Area spokeswoman Bonnie Berzonski.
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By Liz Hayes, VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Monday, October 19, 2009
Local school districts are reporting few confirmed cases of the novel H1N1 influenza -- also called swine flu -- but school and health officials say the actual number of undiagnosed cases likely is much higher.
In the Alle-Kiski Valley, only Franklin Regional, New Kensington-Arnold and Plum said a few of their students -- nine total -- have been diagnosed with H1N1.
Many more districts, including Allegheny Valley, Armstrong, Fox Chapel Area, Highlands, Kiski Area and Riverview, said they've had students with flu-like symptoms, and at least some of those illnesses likely were H1N1.
Officials from Burrell and Deer Lakes did not respond to requests for comment.
Guillermo Cole, spokesman for the Allegheny County Health Department, said many people with flu-like illnesses never seek treatment from a doctor or hospital. And even those who are professionally treated aren't necessarily tested to determine which strain of influenza they have.
"The identified cases are really only the tip of the iceberg," said Cole.
As of Oct. 8, the state Department of Health reported about 3,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 in Pennsylvania. The Valley's four counties (Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler and Westmoreland) all had confirmed cases; Allegheny and Butler counties each had one death from the virus.
Several local school districts said they've had cases of suspected H1N1 and definite cases of Influenza A that is believed to be H1N1.
According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99 percent of flu patients diagnosed with Influenza A have the subtype associated with H1N1.
Few districts affected
The flu isn't impacting schools uniformly.
Franklin Regional Middle School had an absenteeism rate of about 18 percent earlier this month compared with the usual rate of less than 5 percent absent, according to spokeswoman Shelley Shaneyfelt.
Only one student had a confirmed case of swine flu, but many had Influenza A, Shaneyfelt said.
"Based on our numbers (Wednesday and Thursday), we think we may have hit the peak," she said.
Plum School District spokeswoman Dawn Check said the district had five students with confirmed H1N1 by the end of the week, plus several others with flu symptoms.
New Kensington-Arnold also reported three cases, according to school nurse Michele Altieri.
Meanwhile, a few districts said they've not yet noticed any significant signs of illness.
"In fact, our attendance has been very good," Leechburg Area Superintendent Jim Budzilek said.
"Our attendance this year is actually higher than this time last year," said
Freeport Area spokesman Todd O'Shell.
Cole said it is unlikely any district will avoid the virus entirely: "At some point, every school is probably going to have high absenteeism due to H1N1.
Check with hospitals
The Allegheny County Health Department measures the spread of influenza by determining the percentage of people with flu-like symptoms treated in the emergency rooms of eight area hospitals.
Cole said hospitals reported about nine percent of their emergency patients had flu-like symptoms in the last week, up from two percent over the summer and about five percent last April when H1N1 first appeared.
"It's fairly high and very widespread," Cole said. "(The rate) certainly is higher than it was at the peak of the last regular flu season."
A typical flu season runs from late fall to early spring, usually peaking in late January or February. Cole said last year's flu season saw at most 6 percent of emergency patients seeking treatment for the flu, although he noted the 2008 flu season wasn't terribly severe.
Despite the hype and rapid spread, H1N1 is not a particularly severe flu, Cole said.
"It is so far a relatively mild to moderate illness," he said. "The virus hasn't mutated and become more virulent, which is a good thing.
"We're not seeing anywhere near the mortality rate that we see from regular flu, which has a greater impact on the elderly," Cole added.
What is unusual about H1N1 is the disproportionate rate at which children and young adults catch the virus. Cole said health experts believe older adults aren't as affected because they have partial immunity from long-ago exposure to similar flu strains.
Although the vast majority of H1N1 patients will recover without treatment or complications, the World Health Organization on Friday reported those with severe cases are more likely than usual flu patients to develop pneumonia.
The organization said worldwide research shows the sickest patients -- many of whom are relatively young and have no underlying health problems -- may rapidly develop bacterial infections and respiratory problems three to five days after symptoms first appear.
Deborah Spangler, a previously healthy 45-year-old Butler County woman, died in early September after her case of H1N1 flu was complicated by a bacterial infection.
'Hard to predict'
Cole said it's hard to guess when the worst of the H1N1 flu will pass, especially since the regular flu season should begin in another month. As H1N1 fades, regular flu cases could pick up and make it difficult for health officials to gauge the prevalence of either.
"It's really hard to predict how much influenza activity will occur," he said.
Local schools said they'll combat influenza as best they can -- dispensing hand sanitizer, urging students to cover coughs and sneezes, and singing the praises of thorough handwashing.
Officials said they are following state guidelines and encouraging parents to keep sick children home to limit the spread.
Despite some high absenteeism, local districts have not found it necessary to close their doors.
"Teachers and principals are aware that we expect a bit more absences than normal and students are being given time to make up homework and tests," said Fox Chapel Area spokeswoman Bonnie Berzonski.
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_648752.html