Although the traditional seasonal flu period typically does not begin for a few more weeks, the number of illnesses — and deaths — caused by the H1N1 virus this year have created a stir and led many parents and other individuals to panic.
However, panic is not the ideal reaction to the virus’s spread, Tina Johnson, administrative director of the Pottawatomie County Health Department, said.
“We don’t want people to panic, just be cautious, be aware, especially with people who have underlying health conditions,” Johnson said.
Some of the tension results from the unusual, pre-season spreading of H1N1, the non-typical categories of those affected, the reportedly higher-than-average number of deaths for this time of year and the mixed signals regarding the safety and effectiveness of the “fast-tracked” H1N1 vaccine.
Typically, the flu season follows the winter season but H1N1 appeared much earlier in the year and continued to make people ill even throughout the summer months, Johnson said. And H1N1 appears to affect primarily those who are pregnant or school age, rather than the elderly, who are typically those most-affected by seasonal flu illness, complications or death.
The increases in pediatric flu cases have somewhat strained the supply of antiviral commonly used to treat them but the Centers for Disease Control has addressed that issue.
“There is a shortage in pediatric Tamiflu so the CDC extended the shelf life after they tested it and found it is still effective and safe,” Johnson said. “So far the H1N1 does seem to be responsive to the Tamiflu. But when it is given, patients should complete the entire prescribed series and follow up with the health care provider if symptoms persist.”
According to the CDC Web site, the exact reason for the shift in the categories affected by H1N1 when compared to those affected by seasonal flu is unknown. However, it has been suggested that the reason is likely because the younger group has not been exposed to the virus before and therefore does not have the natural immunity that those who were born earlier might have.
School-aged children might also be affected in greater numbers because of their proximity to others throughout a typical school day and because younger children might not have learned yet to sneeze or cough into their sleeves or inner elbows.
“We have to remember overall that with the virus, H1N1, the majority of people we’re seeing is recovering,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, even heartbreaking, there have been deaths but remember, for the majority, even those with underlying health conditions are recovering. However, if an individual has underlying health issues and has flu-like symptoms, they should contact a doctor right away.”
This is the same for children, as well as adults, she said.
“With children who have special needs, you still look at it the same as other infections,” Johnson said. “Continue preventative measures as you can, such as receive the vaccine, practice hand washing, avoid small, tight crowded areas and stay home if you’re ill. And I want to stress, contact a physician if the child has underlying health issues and flu-like symptoms.”
Johnson said that in the four-county area she covers — Pottawatomie, Seminole, Okfuskee and Hughes counties — there have been no deaths from H1N1 or H1N1 complications reported to her. She also said there have been no adverse reactions to the H1N1 vaccination reported to her.
“Physicians offices and others will contact me if they have reports of adverse reactions and there is a national reporting system — Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System,” Johnson said. “But no reports of adverse reactions have been received by me.”
Although the H1N1 vaccine is being distributed separately from the seasonal vaccine, it is still made exactly the same way and is tested the same way, Johnson said.
“The only difference is that while this year’s seasonal vaccine is for types A-Brisbane, A-Uruguay and B-Brisbane, 2009 H1N1 is the only virus strain the H1N1 vaccine is directed to prevent,” she said. “If we continue to see this particular strain, it is likely that the H1N1 will be included in next year’s seasonal vaccines.”
Another similarity between the seasonal and 2009 H1N1 vaccines is the time it takes to gain the maximum protection from the flu strains they protect against, Johnson said.
“The H1N1 vaccine takes exactly the same time as the seasonal vaccine for maximum protection — two weeks,” Johnson said. “If you contract the flu, the vaccine might decrease or lessen the symptoms even if you don’t have the full, maximum protection yet. And even if the virus mutated, the vaccine will provide some protection, but not as much, and can decrease the severity.”
Regardless of the duration of illness, parents should still consider how they will deal with their own or their children’s illness if they contract the virus.
“It’s important for parents to think ahead of what care they will have for their children if they do become ill,” Johnson said. “They need to have a plan in place at work and be ready to go if their child is sick and can’t go to school and have a plan for where the child will stay until he or she is well.”
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Tina Johnson, administrative assistant for Pottawatomie County Health Department, said that absentee rates at schools throughout the four counties she represents are “staying pretty steady.”
More H1N1 cases, as well as seasonal flu cases, are expected as flu season kicks off and they are expected to grow more severe, Johnson said.
Recent absentee rates for the Shawnee Public School District have averaged about 10 to 12 percent in the past few weeks, with the lowest absentee rate — 6 to 9 percent — seen at Jefferson Elementary, Superintendent Marilyn Bradford said.
The highest absentee rate in the past week or two for SPS was noted at the Early Childhood Center, she said.
An H1N1 vaccine clinic will be held for pre-K through 12th graders and for 6-month-old to 18-year-old individuals with underlying health conditions from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Pottawatomie County Health Department.
Those who are 10 or younger receive two shots or two vaccines a few weeks apart.
