Consequently, the number of Utah H1N1 cases that is updated weekly on the CDC Web site — listed at 920 as of July 2 — is simply a compilation of those confirmed by early testing, plus the new patients hospitalized each week since the state stopped testing each case several weeks ago, Sundwall said. The CDC count dramatically under-reports the number of people believed to have had the virus.

When looking at CDC comparisons of the numbers of flu cases by state, "it's apples and oranges," he said. "You can only have confidence in that if you see that it's a blending of the data. There's no consistent way of reporting it," across states, he said.

"The CDC has quite a bit of confidence in our mechanisms for reportable diseases. Most states I don't think are as reliable; they are not exactly the same, for sure. I don't think there's any attempt to misrepresent the figures," he said. "You take what you can and make some assumptions from it."

Sundwall said health officials feel fortunate the disease hasn't played out to be as severe as some had feared. The state hasn't had to dip into its federal allotment of antiviral medication because retailers have been able to keep pace with demand, though there have been temporary shortages, he said.

Health officials nationwide remain concerned about whether the virus will return forcefully in the fall and whether it might become more virulent, he said.

Sundwall has been appointed to a national vaccine safety planning work group, which includes officials from the CDC and U.S. Health and Human Services.

"We're anticipating the need to be protected. … In event we have a vaccine by mid-October, we may do a nationwide vaccination program." Preliminary discussion has been that the government "would pay for the cost of vaccinating every U.S. citizen."

When asked if that would include illegal immigrants, given the current political climate in Utah and nationwide, Sundwall said, "When it comes to infectious diseases, I don't want to draw the line there."

E-MAIL: carrie@desnews.com