State figures reflect Jeffco’s decrease in flu cases
LAKEWOOD – State health officials Wednesday confirmed what their colleagues in Jeffco suggested a day earlier: There are indications that the spread of flu has peaked in the metro area.
But officials at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said they still expect an increase in the total number of Swine Flu – H1N1 – deaths and cases requiring hospital care.
Information gathered from several sources as part of the state health agency’s flu-monitoring duties indicates the peak of hospitalizations and influenza-like illnesses came nearly three weeks ago, the week that ended Oct 10.
“Our surveillance of flu activity in the Denver area the past three weeks has shown a leveling off and decline in the number of hospitalized cases being reported,” said Ned Calonge, the state’s Chief Medical Officer.
In its latest report on patients with flu symptoms, Kaiser Permanente data indicates the flu has leveled off since early October and seems to be declining somewhat. That is in marked contrast top the steep rise in flu cases the health-care group reported from late August through the end of September.
The Jeffco Public Health Department uses the number of school absences attributed to flu-like symptoms as part of its disease-tracking database and those figures show a significant decrease. There were 1,464 absences credited to the flu Oct. 21, the latest figures available. That is down markedly from the 2,796 absences reported Oct. 12.
Much of the decline is related to the number of kids sent home with flu-like symptoms, which is recorded in the absences list. Because of a public education campaign urging people to stay home when sick, fewer sick students are showing up at school, so the drop in absences really reflects a leveling trend, said Christine Billings, Jefferson County Public Health Department emergency preparedness epidemiologist.
Billings is not convinced we have seen the worst of swine flu, which has shown a propensity to mutate.
“While we have leveled off now that’s not to say,” it will continue, she said. “We leveled off in the summer and we saw another peak. We might see another peak and we might see a decline.
“The most predictable thing about influenza is that it is very unpredictable,” Billings said.
Since the Colorado Department of Public Health began tracking flu cases in the state during the summer, 83 Jefferson County residents have required hospital care. Twenty-five people – seven children and 18 adults – have died from the flu statewide since the end of August.
Billings said all the cases confirmed in Jeffco so far have been swine flu and the seasonal flu remains ahead of us. State figures back that up,: 99 percent of the current confirmed cases of the flu are swine flu, the CDPHE said Wednesday.
Vaccine targeting swine flu remains in tight supply and the county health agency, which has distributed 20,000 doses to those who need it most, plans a series of clinics starting next month to reach children, their family members and other high-priority groups.
The county agency and the Visiting Nurse Association will distribute the remaining limited supply to hose in the high-priority groups who cannot get the vaccine from their private health-care provider, said Nancy Braden, Jeffco Health Department spokeswoman.
The priority groups are children 6 months through 4 years old; children 5 to 18 who have chronic medical conditions; pregnant women; ppeople who live with or care for children younger than 6 months; and health-care and emergency medical services personnel,
The Lakewood clinics will be at Alameda High School, 1255 South Wadsworth Boulevard. Nov. 21, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other clinics in the county will be at Arvada High School, 7951 W. 65th Ave., Nov. 21 and Dec. 12, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Chatfield High School, 7227 S. Simms St., Littleton, Nov. 21, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Evergreen High School, 29300 Buffalo Park Road, Nov. 21, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; and West Jefferson Middle School, 9449 S. Barnes Ave., Conifer, Nov. 21, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Jefferson County residents who are included in the high-priority groups are should complete a consent form before the clinic. The forms can be downloaded at: http://bit.ly/clinics.
Those planning to attend are asked to e-mail Jeffco Health in advance at: publichealthclinics@jeffco.us, say which clinic you plan to attending and which priority group you are in.
The vaccinations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each clinic will close when the vaccine is depleted.
Long lines are expected and those waiting may have to stand outside, no matter what the weather.
When more vaccine becomes available, more clinics will be scheduled. The county health agency expects vaccine to be available to the general public by late December or early January, Braden said.
The state health department has an online link that allows patients to answer a series of questions to determine the severity of their flu symptoms based on the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
