By OWEN BOSS
Staff Writer
THE ISSUE: For many area residents, the ushering in of winter means preparing for another flu season and although local hospitals are reporting that there are plenty of influenza vaccinations to go around, the timing, severity and length of this year's epidemic is still unknown.
STORY SO FAR: Last year, the H1N1 or swine flu virus spread worldwide causing the first flu pandemic in more than 40 years. Across the country, people lined up outside of clinics to receive their vaccinations and reported cases steadily increased during the winter season. After children, senior citizens and those with chronic underlying conditions were vaccinated, the H1N1 vaccine was made available to all residents and soon after reported swine flu cases declined steeply.
However, during the 2010-2011 flu season, the Center for Disease Control is expecting the same 2009 H1N1 virus will cause illnesses again along with other influenza viruses. In an attempt to prevent a resurgence of the strand, the 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1 and two other more common influenza viruses.
WHAT'S HAPPENING: According to Christina Trinchero, spokeswoman for Cooley Dickinson Hospital, the number of local residents coming in with flu-like symptoms during the month of December has decreased dramatically from last year. Over the last three months, Trinchero said 60 residents have been tested for influenza and of those, only three have tested positive. Over that span last year, 519 people were tested for influenza, 80 of whom had confirmed cases. As of Dec. 1, the Center for Disease Control had distributed 163 million doses of the 2010-2011 flu vaccine to clinics across the country, more than enough, they say, to make it readily to anyone looking to receive one.
FINE PRINT: The Center for Disease Control strongly recommends a yearly flu vaccination as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. The 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine will protect against an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus, and the 2009 H1N1 virus that emerged last year. The seasonal 2010-11 vaccine has begun shipping from manufacturers and the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a 2010-2011 flu vaccine for the upcoming season.
VERBATIM: "The problem with the flu virus is that it is very unpredictable, it can look like it is starting off really slowly and then just explode across the local population. It can also come on very heavy in the beginning of the season and then diminish quickly."
- Linda Riley, Manager of Infection Prevention at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton
WHAT'S AHEAD: According to the state's Department of Public Health, flu activity most commonly peaks in Massachusetts in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can occur as late as May. Although reported cases have been scarce so far this year, Riley said the flu tends to appear locally sometime after students return from holiday break.
"We live in a college community so usually our numbers peak sometime in February or March when students come back from home and spread germs among each other," Riley said. In addition to getting vaccinated, Riley suggests area residents take everyday preventive steps like staying away from sick people and washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs. Also, if you are sick with flu or are coming down with symptoms, she said it is important to stay home from work or school to prevent spreading influenza to others.
RESOURCES: For information about local clinics where you can receive vaccinations, visit the state's Department of Public Health's website: http://flu.masspro.org/clinic/index; For updated statistics regarding the number of reported influenza cases in your area, visit the Center for Disease Control's website: http://www.cdc.gov.
Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.
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