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California continues to have widespread flu activity, a rare occurrence as July approaches
By Sandy Kleffman
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 06/29/2009 04:37:32 PM PDT
Updated: 06/30/2009 06:57:09 AM PDT

http://www.contracostatimes.com/heal...237?source=rss

With July just around the corner, now is the time to focus on ice-cream cones, barbecues and dips in a cool pool.

But health experts warn that one other thing should remain uppermost in people’s minds — the flu.

California is one of 12 states that continue to report widespread influenza activity, a rare occurrence for this time of year.

Experts believe the regular seasonal flu has faded away, as it typically does during the summer, and most cases now involve the swine flu, otherwise known as the novel H1N1 virus.

“It’s almost like we’re in the middle of a new flu season,” said Dr. Stephen Parodi, chief of infectious disease for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.

“Looking at the amount of influenza we’re currently seeing,” Parodi said, “it would not surprise me if we have continued activity through at least the next several weeks, if not months.”

For that reason, Parodi and others advise people to remain vigilant by covering coughs, washing hands frequently and staying home when sick for at least seven days after the onset of symptoms.

Some experts worry people will let down their guards because summer is not usually the time to be concerned about flu-related illnesses.

“People need to know that we are continuing to see H1N1 activity pretty much parallel to what we were seeing in April, May and even June,” said Dr. Gil Chavez, deputy director of the Center for Infectious Disease at the California Department of Public Health.

Scientists detected the first U.S. cases of the H1N1 virus in California in April. Because this is a novel virus that no one has been exposed to before, people have little or no immunity to it. That could be one of the reasons the virus is continuing to circulate during the summer months.

Swine flu symptoms are similar to the standard flu, including a fever, coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue and chills. Some people also report vomiting and diarrhea.

At least 142 Californians have been hospitalized because of swine flu, and many more have been sickened at home and recovered. Most cases are mild, but 17 Californians have died.

Children are among those who have been hit the hardest. Experts note that schools provide prime opportunities for transmission of the virus because so many people gather there.

Now that schools are out, children have another place where they can easily become infected — summer camps.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association announced on June 19 that it would cancel its remaining 47 summer camp programs, involving 2,500 children, because of the H1N1 virus. It took the action after several swine flu cases were reported at its camps.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising camp operators to quickly identify and isolate sick children and to encourage both campers and staff members to remain home when ill.

In an unusual twist, unlike the seasonal flu, the H1N1 virus has typically not prompted severe illnesses among the elderly. One possible explanation is that people older than 65 were exposed to a similar virus many years ago and thus have some immunity, Chavez said.

Ten of the 17 Californians who died from swine flu had pre-existing health conditions, including chronic respiratory problems such as asthma and emphysema.

But others were seemingly healthy before they were stricken, including a middle-aged Contra Costa County man who died June 12.

Two middle-aged Alameda County men who died had pre-existing conditions, as did a middle-aged San Mateo County woman.

No vaccine exists for the swine flu, but the CDC is working with manufacturers on the initial steps toward development.

As the summer progresses, state and federal health officials will watch the virus closely here and in the Southern Hemisphere, which has its flu season during our summer.

State officials are monitoring the virus to see if its makeup changes, a development that could make it become more virulent, Chavez said. They also hope to learn more about the severest cases to understand who is most at risk.

The World Health Organization, which has declared the swine flu to be a global pandemic, reports confirmed cases in at least 88 countries.

The big question will be what happens in the fall when the U.S. flu season returns. Will several flu viruses circulate at once? Will the swine flu take over, squeezing out the others? Will the relatively mild swine flu virus suddenly become more virulent?

“Watching what occurs in the Southern Hemisphere will give us a good preview,” Parodi said.
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