H1N1 cases may have peaked in King County — but epidemic far from over, health officials say
King County’s H1N1 “swine” flu outbreak appears to have peaked with the number of hospitalizations and emergency room visits due to the virus dropping since late October, Dr. David Fleming, director of Public Health – Seattle & King County said today.
The number of cases is now running 10 to 20 percent below the October peak, Dr. Fleming said.
“This is welcome news, but it by no means the epidemic is over,” Dr. Fleming said.
The number of infections are still running higher than was seen during last spring’s H1N1 outbreak, he noted, and higher than is seen during a typical flu season.
And it is possible the slowing of the epidemic could be temporary and that the number of cases could rebound, he said.
The slowdown, though, offered a “window of opportunity” for those who have not received the vaccine to get vaccinated, he said.
Vaccine is still in short supply, but shipments of additional supplies are coming in “almost everyday,” Dr. Fleming said, and eventually everyone who wants the vaccine will be able to get it.
Fleming said a number of factors may be behind the slowing of the epidemic. First, more than 190,000 people in the county have received vaccinated, and, second, more than 130,ooo have been infected and now are immune.
“A consequence of that is there are fewer people in the county now who are susceptible,” he said.
“The bottom line here is, unfortunately, the epidemic is not over,” he said. “What it means is that if you haven’t had time to get immunized, you now have time to go out and get immunized.”
Health officials are still urging that the individuals considered at higher-risk of developing complications from H1N1 flu infections be given priority.
These are:
- Pregnant women
- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
- People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
- People between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems
- Healthcare and emergency workers with direct patient contact
To learn more:
- Information about the participating pharmacies and what people should know about getting the vaccine before they go is posted at: www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu/pharmacies.aspx
- For more information on Public Health – Seattle & King County’s distribution strategy and where vaccine has been shipped to date, visitwww.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu/distribution.aspx
- For addition information about local H1N1 resources visit our H1N1 page.
Related posts:
- Online H1N1 “swine” flu resources from Public Health – Seattle & King County
- Video: H1N1 “swine” flu advice from Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Dr. Jeff Duchin
- King County man dies from H1N1 “swine” flu
- 15,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine arrive at pharmacies in Seattle and King County
- Ten cases of probable H1N1 swine flu now identified in King County
