Sarasota Health News

Flu cases falling, vaccinations rising

David Gulliver - posted 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3

Sarasota County is seeing two good signs in its effort to fight H1N1 swine flu: The number of cases continues to fall, and some 55,000 people have been vaccinated against the virus.

While cases of flu-like illness are still widespread, most of the systems tracking the flu show significant declines. The percentage of hospital emergency room visits related to flu, considered the most reliable measure, has fallen steadily.

This week, the figure stands at about 3 percent -- about one-third of the peak, which occurred when schools reopened. Health department officials cautioned, however, that those results only cover part of the week.

“We’re seeing a positive trend in the right direction,” said Scott Pritchard, county epidemiologist. “Although we’ve come a long way from the peak, we’re still experiencing influenza-like illness at the level of the peak of the flu season.”

Other positive signs:

-- One tracking measure looks at the percentage of positive tests for H1N1 swine flu at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. While the test is known to miss many true cases, for the first time since late May, there were no positive tests during the week.

-- There were no outbreaks, or clusters of related cases, in the county’s public schools. And the number of reported cases of flu-like illness continues to fall, now below the levels of the peak of a normal flu season.

Pritchard said the vaccination program has helped, in combination with other efforts, like the well-publicized hand-washing campaign. “Definitely it (vaccination) has helped, but to what degree, it’s hard to say. As a whole, the community has taken measures that have reduced our peak,” he said.

Health officials remain cautious and vigilant, however. Past flu epidemics have had waves of infection and illness. That may occur with the H1N1 virus, which would make vaccination all the more important, Pritchard said.

About 55,000 people have received vaccines through the county’s distribution, said Chuck Henry, who directs the flu response program.

While that’s less than one-sixth of all Sarasota County residents, about 39 percent of the highest-risk group, people up to age 24, received the vaccine, he said. In other high-risk groups, vaccine went to about 55 percent of health care workers and 36 percent of pregnant women.

That has the county now offering the vaccine to all residents over 6 months of age at two clinics on Saturday. (For details, click here.) About 2,000 doses of injectable vaccine will be available at each site, in addition to doses of the inhalable FluMist version.





	Flu cases falling, vaccinations rising David Gulliver - posted 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 Sarasota County is seeing two good signs in its effort to fight H1N1 swine flu: The number of cases continues to fall, and some 55,000 people have been vaccinated against the virus. While cases of flu-like illness are still widespread, most of the systems tracking the flu show significant declines. The percentage of hospital emergency room visits related to flu, considered the most reliable measure, has fallen steadily. This week, the figure stands at about 3 percent -- about one-third of the peak, which occurred when schools reopened. Health department officials cautioned, however, that those results only cover part of the week. “We’re seeing a positive trend in the right direction,” said Scott Pritchard, county epidemiologist. “Although we’ve come a long way from the peak, we’re still experiencing influenza-like illness at the level of the peak of the flu season.” Other positive signs: -- One tracking measure looks at the percentage of positive tests for H1N1 swine flu at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. While the test is known to miss many true cases, for the first time since late May, there were no positive tests during the week. -- There were no outbreaks, or clusters of related cases, in the county’s public schools. And the number of reported cases of flu-like illness continues to fall, now below the levels of the peak of a normal flu season. Pritchard said the vaccination program has helped, in combination with other efforts, like the well-publicized hand-washing campaign. “Definitely it (vaccination) has helped, but to what degree, it’s hard to say. As a whole, the community has taken measures that have reduced our peak,” he said. Health officials remain cautious and vigilant, however. Past flu epidemics have had waves of infection and illness. That may occur with the H1N1 virus, which would make vaccination all the more important, Pritchard said. About 55,000 people have received vaccines through the county’s distribution, said Chuck Henry, who directs the flu response program. While that’s less than one-sixth of all Sarasota County residents, about 39 percent of the highest-risk group, people up to age 24, received the vaccine, he said. In other high-risk groups, vaccine went to about 55 percent of health care workers and 36 percent of pregnant women. That has the county now offering the vaccine to all residents over 6 months of age at two clinics on Saturday. (For details, click here.) About 2,000 doses of injectable vaccine will be available at each site, in addition to doses of the inhalable FluMist version.