Flu season begins to slow down

Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 | 11:14 a.m.

The flu season is slowing down, Clark County Health District officials said today.

But it isn't over.

"The numbers have been dwindling, but at last count we still had some new cases," spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore said.

As of Wednesday there were five new positive rapid tests for the flu, Sizemore said, bringing the total to 207 cases this season.

Flu season typically lasts from October until March or April, but the flu hit earlier and harder this year, worrying health officials across the country, Sizemore said.

For example, Clark County had no confirmed cases of the flu in December 2002. In December 2003 the county confirmed 159 cases, Sizemore said.

The epidemiology office also saw a higher rate of influenza-like symptoms being reported in December 2003, up to an average of 5.65 percent of patients being treated for symptoms from 2 percent in 2002.

Fear of the severity of this season's flu virus started a stampede for vaccinations in early December, causing a nationwide shortage and sending the Health District scrambling for doses.

Vaccinations for children and at-risk individuals are still available, Sizemore said. Most people are vaccinated between October and December.

The last flu season October 2002 through May 2003, did not see any reported cases until January 2003 and peaked in April, according to health district statistics. There were 47 confirmed cases.

The Health District confirmed the first case this season in November.

Health District officials will not be able to determine when the flu season officially has ended until they are able to look back after several weeks of no cases and see when the last case appeared, Sizemore said.

It's also difficult to determine the end and the severity of the flu season because not all cases are reported or even diagnosed, Sizemore said. Most people with influenza do not go to the doctor, she said.

The numbers also do not tell the whole picture, Sizemore said. More confirmed cases this season than last does not necessarily mean this year's flu was more severe. The high profile the flu season received this year may just mean more cases were reported, Sizemore said.