Fewer flu cases being seen locally

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November 13, 2009

Anonymous The Press Republican Fri Nov 13, 2009, 10:41 PM EST

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PLATTSBURGH — The local impact of the swine flu eased a bit this week.

The Clinton County Health Department is reporting a decline in school absenteeism, emergency-department visits and the number of antiviral prescriptions written by local health-care providers.

In schools, flu-like illnesses have shifted to elementary-age children from previous weeks of high rates of illness among junior- and senior-high students.

This wave pattern is typical of what occurs during a pandemic, according to the Health Department.

Since early October, 6,600 doses of H1N1 influenza vaccine have been provided to people in the first target group by health-care providers in Clinton County.

Larger quantities are expected later in November, and the Health Department plans to hold clinics once enough is available.

The department needs health-care workers to join the Medical Reserve Corps and help at public H1N1 clinics. People who are interested can register at www.clintoncountygov.com.

At Plattsburgh State, the Center for Student Health and Psychological Services vaccinated more than 1,100 students in its first four H1N1 flu-shot clinics, with another one held with week.

To date, 302 cases of flu have been recorded by the center this semester, with 250 coming during the past three weeks.

But the number of students visiting the Health Center this week appears to be slowing down, according to the Health Department report. And flu among college faculty, professional staff and food-service workers continues to remain relatively small.

Three new videos about H1N1 are available on the college Web site: www.plattsburgh.edu/studentlife/health/h1n1. These were produced by students working for PSTV, the campus TV station.

FRANKLIN COUNTY
Franklin County Public Health is having an H1N1 clinic from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday at Franklin Academy High School gym in Malone.

The clinic is open to residents of the School District age 6 months to 24 years, pregnant women and people caring for infants less than 6 months of age. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

SEASONAL FLU
Some seasonal flu is beginning to circulate in the community, health officials say. This is about six weeks earlier than in an average year.