Rampant

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If you're suffering from flu-like symptoms, it's safe to assume you've got the H1N1, or swine flu, strain of influenza.

That's according to Christine Schuyler, the county's health department director, who said Thursday that the seasonal strain of influenza is not circulating.

''The strain of flu that's circulating right now is H1N1, or swine flu," she said. "We are not seeing the seasonal strain of influenza at all. The people who are sick with influenza-like illness are suffering from H1N1.''

There are at least 100 confirmed cases of H1N1, or swine flu, in Chautauqua County, Schuyler said, but because some physician offices and laboratories do not report incidents of swine flu, that number is a gross underestimation.

''We honestly don't have an accurate number,'' she said. ''Nobody is being recommended to test people for the H1N1 strain because it's so widespread. Any testing that has been done is coming back showing only the H1N1 strain of flu. It's not that there are geographic pockets where there are large incidents of the flu. It's everywhere in the county. There is a very widespread illness.''

This spring, county health officials issued formal reports when H1N1 was identified and confirmed in two Bemus Point residents. But earlier this month, incidents of H1N1 started to become so widespread that health department officials said there was no need to continuously issue formal reports.

''It would be like sending out a notification during flu season every time someone came down with the regular, seasonal strain of the flu,'' Ms. Schuyler said. ''H1N1 has gotten so common that this is what we're dealing with. People need to pretend that this is mid-winter and we're all dealing with a year where the seasonal flu outbreak is very bad. There are a lot of people everywhere who are sick right now.''

Since Sept. 1, state Department of Health officials have reported eight deaths outside New York City from H1N1. State health officials said three of those deaths took place in the last week - two people between the ages of 50 and 64 have died from H1N1, while one person over the age of 65 has died. Since April 24, 34 people outside New York City have died. Since Sept. 1, the state health department has reported no deaths in children younger than 18.

In Erie County, Pa., officials have said every single one of the county's 1,083 reported flu cases since June are either suspected or confirmed to be H1N1. In the last week alone, health department officials there said 482 cases of influenza were reported.

Each year, more than 36,000 people die from the seasonal strain of influenza.

''From what I've seen, most of the people affected are very young children and young adults,'' Ms. Schuyler said. ''The reason this is spreading so quickly is because it's a brand new strain of flu. People have no immunity to it whatsoever. That's why we did all that data collection back in the spring - this is an entirely new strain we'ven ever seen before.''

Ms. Schuyler said the fast spread of H1N1 is going ''exactly as we thought it would back in the spring.''

''We're thankful this hasn't mutated to a stronger strain,'' she said. ''If it had, we'd be counting body bags. That's what a pandemic scare is all about - health officials were very concerned that this mild form of H1N1 flu would mutate to a stronger, more deadly strain and spread fast because people don't have any immunity. But luckily, this strain is pretty mild and very similar to the seasonal influenza strain.''

Elderly citizens likely have more of an immunity to the H1N1 strain of influenza than younger citizens, Ms. Schuyler said.

''They've been exposed to several different strains of influenza over the course of their life and have likely built up some immunity,'' she said. ''The younger population hasn't had that opportunity and their bodies have never had a chance to generate an immune response to anything like this. That's why they're getting sick so quickly.''

It's not too late to get a vaccination, though.

According to county health department officials, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting seasonal flu can get a seasonal influenza vaccine. Certain people - such as those 50 and older, health care workers, pregnant women and those with underlying medical conditions - should receive a seasonal flu shot as soon as it is available.

The story is a bit different for those who want to receive the H1N1 vaccine. Priority populations for that vaccination are pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children less than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, persons 6 months through 24 years of age, and persons age 25 through 64 years who have medical conditions associated with a higher risk of influenza complications.

''You can get the flu twice in one season,'' Ms. Schuyler said. ''So if you're in one of those priority populations, I would recommend that you get a vaccine as soon as it becomes available. That way, if this strain does mutate, you've got at least some immunity.''

The county health department has only 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine available. Ms. Schuyler said those doses were offered to pediatricians and OBGYNs throughout the county. She also said health officials have been working closely with school administrators to hold clinics at various schools. She said parents can expect to hear when a clinic will take place at their school from their school district as soon as details are available. She also said vaccine information, consent forms and other documents and details will be sent home with school children for parental review and signature.

In a written statement issued Thursday, Richard Daines, the state health commissioner, said the production of H1N1 vaccine has encountered delays and, as a result, large amounts of the vaccine won't be available to New York until at least mid-November and possibly later.

''The volume of telephone calls we've gotten has just been unreal,'' she said. ''I can assure the that we are not hoarding the vaccine for any purpose. We have an extremely limited amount available and will make everything we get available as soon as we've got it to give.''

Member Comments

View Comments: | 1-13 | Post a comment

NewHampshirePJreader
10-31-09 1:29 AM »Report Abuse	Testing to confirm swine flu - H1N1 to be politically correct - would provide REAL data. This is hype - why try to scare citizens, especially when there is not enough vaccine for those who wish to be vaccinated. More misinformation - just like CNN reporting tonight that the 'screwulus' package passed in February has saved or created ONE MILLION jobs, and will create 3.5 MILLION MORE in the next year. Most of the money spent so far has been used to balance state and county budgets and fund government jobs.
drew3rd
10-30-09 11:19 PM »Report Abuse	36,000 people a year die from the flu. Why is H1N1 such a big deal? They are measuring nationwide deaths from H1N1 in the hundreds. Why did all of this hysteria start?
marino13
10-30-09 4:18 PM »Report Abuse	Ditto to all the below posted comments.
YRUSORE
10-30-09 2:38 PM »Report Abuse	This is BS. I've spoken to the lab techs who are doing the testing, ant the proportion of H1N1 is no greater than the other seasonal varieties of flu going around. It is true though that some people who get the H1N1 are devastated by it.
whatever
10-30-09 2:00 PM »Report Abuse	It was never gonna get me either...I have been sick for a few days, work made me go see a doc and I tested positive for it :( Glade I declined the shot a few days ago, now maybe someone that's not sick yet can have it.
NYNana
10-30-09 1:37 PM »Report Abuse	This is insanity of our health care system and our government and the cdc and the media. Frewsburg school sent a friends child home from school yesterday saying he had h1n1 and he can't go back to school until next week sometime. He does NOT have h1n1, he has allergies and the doctor verified it. This hysteria the schools are causing by making WRONG diagnosis should be illegal. I would take my chances with the h1n1 before I EVER take a vaccine that was rushed into production and is really nothing more than last years flu vaccine,from things I have read. Stop the insanity! Please.
kiddingme
10-30-09 1:00 PM »Report Abuse	This whole article is "Rampant" with hysteria! And the first sentence - we all know what we were told in school about assuming. I think the whole article is a gross overestimation.
howbouthat
10-30-09 12:29 PM »Report Abuse	why is this such a big deal? any of it? its a freakin flu virus. i currently know 3 people who were tested for it and are considered confirmed cases.I dont know what method of testing was used, i could care less how many doses of the our county receives. what really matters is that if you get sick(just like with any virus or cold) you go to a doctor and get checked out. you take a few days or a week off work or school so you dont spread it. then you do as the doctor said...you know!? plenty of fluids,get plenty of rest,use over the counter and perscribed medications as directed, ma-b a little more for the people who like to overdo things,ect. anyways you'll be fine IF you take care of yourself. If you dont take care of yourself...hmm......oh ya its just like any other flu virus....you stay sick longer,get worse symptoms, oh and ma-b die. so the bottom line is TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
MEM699
10-30-09 12:10 PM »Report Abuse	I agree with you Jamestownresident26!
plumber
10-30-09 8:48 AM »Report Abuse	Chatauqua County HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS 500 doses, WOW, how many people live here? Why is it that we are always last,people in this part of the world don't matter?Well look on the bright side,500 will be alright?LOVELY!!!
MEM699
10-30-09 8:05 AM »Report Abuse	They are considering "influenza A" to be a positive for "swine flu" also. My cousin went to his doctor last week, he is 17 got a nose swab that took 2 minutes and was told it was swine flu couldnt go back to school for a week! No accurate tests are being done.
carlaw
10-30-09 6:15 AM »Report Abuse	This is a another distraction. Blown out of proportion and the media isn't helping. If they don't test they can't know what is really happening.
jamestownresident26
10-30-09 5:06 AM »Report Abuse	This woman is full of it. Our child has been tested for H1N1 and she came back positive for Influenza B, which is not H1N1. So there is another flu circulating around.

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