H1N1 cases in Cherokee leveling off

Cases of reported flu-like symptoms seem to be tapering off in Cherokee County, and thousands of H1N1 vaccines still are up for grabs.

The Cherokee County Health Department has about 7,500 injectable and nasal H1N1 vaccines available at its offices in Canton and Woodstock.

During a two-day flu vaccination campaign last week, the county gave out 1,660 vaccines in both forms.

The county last week received 9,200 out of the 19,000 doses that were given to the North Georgia Health District, which includes Cherokee.

"We still have plenty of vaccines left," said Jennifer Moorer, public information officer for the North Georgia Health District.

Vaccines also have been distributed to area health care providers and pharmacies to dispense to customers. To see where the vaccines are located near you, a locator tool is available on the health department's Web site at www.nghd.org.

Mrs. Moorer said residents should take advantage of the vaccine, which is offered at no charge by all providers.

An administrative fee may be charged through Medicare, Medicaid and all third-party insurance including State Health Benefit plans for United Health Care and CIGNA. Residents are asked to bring their insurance cards.

Service will be on a first-come, first-serve basis until the current vaccine supply is depleted. The priority groups that will be first to receive the injectable vaccine, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are: pregnant women; health care and emergency medical personnel; people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months; anyone from 6 months to 24 years of age; and anyone from 25 to 64 years old who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza related complications.

Children younger than 10 who received the initial H1N1 vaccine are required to get the second dose 28 days later.

Jeff Mathis, practice administrator at DV Pediatrics in Canton, said active cases of flu-like symptoms have slowed down at his office on Marietta Highway.

The peak months were August and September, which Mathis attributes to the normal spike in communicable diseases being passed when students return to school.

"H1N1 was put into the mix," he said.

Mathis said the office also has seen a decrease in questions parents have about the H1N1 vaccines.

While it's calm now, Mathis is expecting a rise in January as the cold weather settles into Georgia and children begin showing more cold and flu-like symptoms.

The number of active cases, he said, likely will peak at the latter part of January and begin to decline in the spring.

At Cherokee County School District schools, where the number of reported flu-like cases topped 700 this fall, attendance rates continue to stabilize.

During the week of Nov. 30, the average absence rate was 3.37 percent down from 3.93 the week of Nov. 16 and 3.96 the week of Nov. 9, according to Dr. Brian Hightower, district director of school operations.

The absence rate peaked at 6.21 percent the week of Oct. 26 to 30.

The number of reported flu-like symptoms reported to school district nurses also has slowed. Only five cases have been this month, with 73 reported in November, according to school district lead nurse Gwen Chambers.

There were 257 reports in October, 452 in September and 84 in August.

Dr. Samuel Gold at Towne Lake Pediatrics said he's also seen a "marked drop" of reported flu-like symptoms. The office now is being "overtaken" with other upper respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis.

While cases have dropped, Gold said he's encouraging patients to get H1N1 and seasonal vaccines to prepare for a second spike that could hit at the beginning of the year.

"We're still pushing the vaccine," he said.

Flu-like cases also have slowed down for Little Hickory Pediatrics in Holly Springs.

Dr. Tim Lorenz said the decline in active cases of flu-like symptoms began to decrease last month.

"I think things have settled down," he said.

However, Lorenz also is predicting a rise in cases that will begin in January and continue through February.

The predicted spike, he said, could also lead to another round of urging from the government to get vaccinated.

"It could come back with a vengeance," he said of the H1N1 flu strain. "We don't know how bad it's going to be."

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