Published: Friday, Dec. 27, 2013 - 10:29 pm
Last Modified: Friday, Dec. 27, 2013 - 10:39 pm
Just days after a Christmas Eve federal health advisory, Sacramento County’s top public health
official warned Friday of a sudden increase in local influenza
activity, possibly led by a strong resurgence of a version of the virus
behind the 2009 worldwide flu pandemic.
Olivia Kasirye, the county’s public health officer, said the viral strain known as influenza A pH1N1 is atypical because it tends to hit young people and healthy adults the hardest. In 2009, the H1N1 virus caused more illness in children and young adults, compared to older adults.
“From last week to the current one, we saw a significant increase in the percentage of positive flu tests, from 6 percent to 20 percent,” Kasirye said. “Young people and healthy middle-aged people are some of the cases we have right now. Being otherwise healthy is a risk factor for this virus.”
Kasirye said though individuals in good health may not believe they need a flu vaccine, the behavior of the pH1N1 virus – a version slightly different than the 2009 virus – presents an argument in favor of getting vaccinated. “We want people to be aware, to know that it’s out there.”
State and federal officials confirmed that the pH1N1 virus is the “predominant strain” circulating so far this season both in California and nationwide. Statewide, no influenza outbreaks have been reported to date and only local – as opposed to regional – cases have popped up, according to data collected by the state up to Dec. 14.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory Tuesday to physicians alerting them to “severe respiratory illness among young and middle-aged adults, many infected with influenza A pH1N1 virus. Multiple hospitalizations, including many requiring intensive care unit admission, and some fatalities have been reported.”
Among 1,071 known influenza cases between Oct. 1 and Dec. 21, the CDC reported, 92.6 percent were influenza A, and 97.7 percent of those were subcategory 2009 pH1N1.
“If pH1N1 virus continues to circulate widely,” the CDC warned, “illness that disproportionately affects young and middle-aged adults may occur.”
Kasirye’s information on the local percentage increase of flu cases week-to-week is based on informal data reported from three major hospital systems. Only one of the hospitals had hard numbers instead of just percentages to share – out of 867 specimens, 164 tested positive for the influenza A virus and nine tested positive for influenza B viruses also targeted by this year’s vaccine.
Olivia Kasirye, the county’s public health officer, said the viral strain known as influenza A pH1N1 is atypical because it tends to hit young people and healthy adults the hardest. In 2009, the H1N1 virus caused more illness in children and young adults, compared to older adults.
“From last week to the current one, we saw a significant increase in the percentage of positive flu tests, from 6 percent to 20 percent,” Kasirye said. “Young people and healthy middle-aged people are some of the cases we have right now. Being otherwise healthy is a risk factor for this virus.”
Kasirye said though individuals in good health may not believe they need a flu vaccine, the behavior of the pH1N1 virus – a version slightly different than the 2009 virus – presents an argument in favor of getting vaccinated. “We want people to be aware, to know that it’s out there.”
State and federal officials confirmed that the pH1N1 virus is the “predominant strain” circulating so far this season both in California and nationwide. Statewide, no influenza outbreaks have been reported to date and only local – as opposed to regional – cases have popped up, according to data collected by the state up to Dec. 14.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory Tuesday to physicians alerting them to “severe respiratory illness among young and middle-aged adults, many infected with influenza A pH1N1 virus. Multiple hospitalizations, including many requiring intensive care unit admission, and some fatalities have been reported.”
Among 1,071 known influenza cases between Oct. 1 and Dec. 21, the CDC reported, 92.6 percent were influenza A, and 97.7 percent of those were subcategory 2009 pH1N1.
“If pH1N1 virus continues to circulate widely,” the CDC warned, “illness that disproportionately affects young and middle-aged adults may occur.”
Kasirye’s information on the local percentage increase of flu cases week-to-week is based on informal data reported from three major hospital systems. Only one of the hospitals had hard numbers instead of just percentages to share – out of 867 specimens, 164 tested positive for the influenza A virus and nine tested positive for influenza B viruses also targeted by this year’s vaccine.
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