California flu strain making way to LV

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005 | 11:02 a.m.

Some California residents visiting Las Vegas may be bringing their germs into the state in addition to their suitcases and wallets.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a new strain of influenza with origins in California. Nationwide the strain accounts for 20 percent of the type A viruses, considered the most common and dangerous of the flu family.

The identification of the new flu strain comes as state and county health officials report that the flu season has been mild so far. No deaths related to the flu have been reported in Clark County compared to three a year ago.

But health officials caution the flu season may not have peaked. That typically happens in mid-February, said Brian Labus, an epidemiologist with the Clark County Health District.

Clark County reported 384 cases of influenza-like illness for the final week of January, the last reporting period. That's slightly higher than the national average, Labus said.

"We don't know the full picture yet," Labus said. "It has been mild, but the flu season is not over yet. It could get worse."

Clark County and Nevada health officials said its unclear how many of its cases could be the new A/California strain. Lab tests are pending on identifying additional strains.

Martha Framsted, a spokeswoman for the Nevada State Health Division, said none of the lab tests done so far show any of the new California strain. The state is seeing an increase in flu-like illnesses. Since the new strain has been found elsewhere in the country, it will likely appear in Nevada, Framsted said.

"We don't know when and where the peak will be," Framsted said. "But it is my message that it is still important that people take precautions."

Those precautions include frequent hand washing and urging people to stay home if they are sick.

The California strain is considered a variant of the A/Fujian virus that has been found in most flu cases this winter. Health officials said the California strain doesn't appear to be more dangerous, but it isn't known if this year's flu vaccine will be effective against it.

The health district dispensed more than 20,000 doses of the flu vaccine this year despite a nationwide shortage. The shortage mostly impacted flu clinics that in the past were sponsored by pharmacies and physicians, Labus said.

In the latest report from the CDC, Nevada and several other states reported higher incidents of the flu compared to California, said Christine Pearson, a spokeswoman for the CDC.

Las Vegas tends to experience flu outbreaks later than most cities in the Northeast and Midwest, said Cheryl Persinger, a spokeswoman for University Medical Center.

"We have not been hit hard with the flu," Persinger said. "It generally starts as the weather gets colder and more people stay inside. Family members and co-workers are more likely to spread germs when they are cooped up inside."

Las Vegas ranked ninth in the country for the number of cold and flu cases for 2003-2004, according to a report released Tuesday by the Florida Department of Citrus.

This is the first release of the so called "Ahh-Choo Index" that lists the most cases of respiratory illness during the cold and flu season. Surprisingly, Las Vegas isn't the only warm weather city on the list. Anaheim ranked No. 1, followed by Atlanta and Los Angeles.

"It was interesting because a lot of people would think of cities in the north having more colds and flu," said Kim LaCour, a spokeswoman representing the Florida Department of Citrus.