Number of flu cases is relatively low but rising

Utah influenza cases are "increasing faster," according to Susan Mottice, an epidemiologist in the Utah Department of Health.

"We don't seem to be at the top. The numbers are still increasing," she said.

Most of the cases that have been confirmed in the lab are along the Wasatch Front. But the number of diagnosed cases is still comparatively low.

In 10 different counties in Utah, a total of 272 cases have been laboratory-confirmed since September. New cases are about double the number seen the week before. The total includes 90 Type A, 57 Type B and 125 cases that were not typed.

Health experts say the "official" numbers are always an undercount of the actual number of people with flu because many with flu symptoms do not seek medical care but ride it out without ever being diagnosed. And even when someone consults a physician, formal lab testing is not always done.

State health officials also track school absenteeism rates to monitor the flu season.

Most of the cases are in Davis, Salt Lake and Weber counties, according to information provided by the Utah Department of Health.

Last year, at its peak, nearly 1,400 influenza cases had been lab confirmed. That peak came unusually early, just before Christmas. Typically, flu in Utah peaks in late January or early February.

No deaths have been reported this year, either. Last year, at least 10 Utahns, including one child, succumbed to flu.

Before the 2003-04 season was over, more than 6,000 cases were confirmed by laboratory testing.

Health officials can't predict what kind of flu season this will be, but they do say that the vaccine that was manufactured this year seems to be on target with the strains of flu circulating.

But fewer people received the vaccine this year, as well. The supply of vaccines was halved when one of two manufacturers, Chiron, was not able to distribute expected doses of the vaccine. Until Thanksgiving, the doses that were available were given only to those in high-risk categories. After the restriction was lifted, many people who normally get a flu shot apparently didn't.

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E-mail: lois@desnews.com