H1N1 making a comeback; it's not too late for vaccination in Utah

Three states in the Southeast are reporting an increase in H1N1 influenza activity, prompting warnings here about a possible increase in cases.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports flu activity in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

In the past several weeks, Georgia has seen an increase in flu-related hospitalizations. Since December, 357 people have been hospitalized and 22 people have died.

Eight other states are also reporting flu activity.

In the Top of Utah, two people have been hospitalized in the past 90 days because of H1N1, said Lori Buttars, public relations director for the Weber-Morgan Health Department.

"Cases are still circulating in our community," Buttars said.

"The best-case scenario is that it will bubble along like this for perhaps as long as two years, as other novel viruses have done in the past. Hopefully, we won't see the spikes like we experienced in the spring and fall of 2009."

Lewis Garrett, director of the Davis County Health Department, also has seen preliminary reports of H1N1 cases cropping up in New Mexico.

"If you could accurately predict influenza activity, you should play Powerball," he said. "It looks like maybe a third wave is developing, but we haven't seen any new hospitalizations right now in Davis County."

Garrett said the virus is still active in the Top of Utah.

However, he said, 40 to 50 percent of Utahns have been vaccinated or they have been infected and built up an immunity, so if a third wave hits, many people will be protected.

"Far less people are susceptible now, but we really don't know what the future brings."

It's still not too late to be vaccinated against H1N1, especially if you have risks for complications, both Buttars and Garrett said.

Next year, the influenza vaccine will have the H1N1 strain incorporated into the seasonal dose.

The CDC estimates 41 million to 84 million cases of H1N1 occurred between April 2009 and Jan. 16, 2010. Between 183,000 and 378,000 people required hospitalization because of H1N1 during the same time frame, and there were 8,330 to 17,160 H1N1-related deaths.

The CDC Web site also says the U.S. could experience another wave of H1N1 into the summer.

A recent study by the CDC also found morbid obesity increases the risk for hospitalization in people ages 20 and older who contract H1N1.

Buttars said health officials are encouraging people to get vaccinated.

"It is a novel virus and has the potential to pass from person to person rather easily."

Updated 11:13 p.m.

Three states in the Southeast are reporting an increase in H1N1 influenza activity, prompting warnings here about a possible increase in cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting flu activity in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. In the past several weeks Georgia has seen an increase in flu-related hospitalizations. Since December, 357 people have been hospitalized and 22 people have died. Eight other states are also reporting flu activity.

In the Top of Utah, two people have been hospitalized in the past 90 days due to H1N1, said Lori Buttars, public relations director for the Weber-Morgan Health Department.

"Cases are still circulating in our community," Buttars said. "The best-case scenario is that it will bubble along like this for perhaps as long as two years as other novel viruses have done in the past. Hopefully we won't see the spikes like we experienced in the spring and fall of 2009."

Lewis Garrett, director of Davis County Health Department, also has seen preliminary reports of H1N1 cases cropping up in New Mexico.

"If you could accurately predict influenza activity, you should play Powerball," he said. "It looks like maybe a third wave is developing but we haven't seen any new hospitalizations right now in Davis County."

Garrett said the virus is still active in the community. However, he said 40 to 50 percent of Utahns have been vaccinated or have been infected and built up an immunity, so if a third wave hits, many people will be protected.

"Far less people are susceptible now," he said. "But we really don't know what the future brings."

Buttars and Garrett said it's still not too late to be vaccinated against H1N1, especially if you have risks for complications. Next year, the influenza vaccine will have the H1N1 strain incorporated into the seasonal shot.

The CDC estimates between 41 million and 84 million cases of 2009 H1N1 occurred between April 2009 and January 16, 2010. Between 183,000 and 378,000 people required hospitalization during the same date range. It also estimates between 8,330 and 17,160 H1N1-related deaths happened during that period.

The CDC Web site also states that as in past pandemics, flu activity has occurred in waves and the U.S. could possibly experience another wave into the summer months.

A recent study by the CDC also found that morbid obesity increases the risk for hospitalization in those who contract H1N1. The study found those risks in people ages 20 and older.

"We are encouraging to vaccinate people and encourage people to get vaccinated if they want to prevent the disease as it is a novel virus and has the potential to pass from person to person rather easily," Buttars said.