Flu season called typical

If state health officials were drawing a portrait of the "typical" influenza season in Utah, it would look a lot like this one, they say.

So far, 188 Utahns have been hospitalized with influenza-like illnesses this season, what appears to be a big jump from the 81 reported one week ago. But the difference may be in the timing of the reports, according to Jodee Summers, an epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health. "Some probably occurred in the weeks previous, but this is when it was reported to us," she said.

"This season is pretty normal and within the expected range," said Summers. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

And while preliminary data for the week "seems to indicate the influenza illness (in Utah) is decreasing," she said, "we can't say for sure. We think the holidays affected that as well." Either way, health officials say, flu activity is still widespread and will be around for a while. That's why they're still urging those who did not get a flu shot to be vaccinated. "The best thing we can advise to prevent spread is to be vaccinated. It's not too late," she said, suggesting people find vaccine through their doctors and local health departments.

Beyond that, health officials are telling people to wash their hands often and to stay home when they're ill.

They base the prevalence assessment on information from their disease surveillance system, which includes data on student absenteeism rates and reports from sentinel sites in Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Utah, Washington and Weber counties.

As with earlier reported hospitalizations, most of the patients are people who were at high risk for complications, such as those with chronic diseases or the very young or old. The majority of flu cases requiring hospitalization have been type A influenza.

Last season, 253 people were hospitalized with influenza.

While officials hope flu activity may have peaked, Summers notes that each influenza season looks different. Last year's was mild, the one before more severe. And sometimes flu activity flares, then fades, then flares again to provide a couple of peaks within a single season.

The most recent Utah count posted at www.health.utah.gov includes cases through the end of 2005. The state's map shows flu activity and hospitalizations throughout most of the state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has its own map showing widespread activity in Utah, California, Arizona and New Mexico, based on how each state classified its own flu activity. On Wednesday afternoon the map was a week behind the state's report, reflecting cases through Dec. 24.

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E-mail: lois@desnews.com