H1N1 cases on the rise in King County; vaccine arriving–but slowly

Dr. David Fleming

The number of cases of infections due to the new H1N1 “swine” flu in King County has risen sharply and is likely to continue to do so, Dr. David Fleming, director of Public Health – Seattle & King County said today.

In a briefing to the King County Board of Health, Dr. Fleming said H1N1 flu activity has now surpassed that seen in the H1N1 outbreak that hit the area last spring.

Since September 135 people have been hospitalized because of H1N1 infections and two have died. School absenteeism is also up. “It’s here,” Dr. Fleming told the Board.

“The trend is up,” he said. “We will continue to see more cases of the disease, more hospitalizations and, unfortunately, more deaths.”

Statewide 540 people have had to be hospitalized because of H1N1 and 13 have died, he said.

Vaccine is arriving much more slowly than anticipated because of unexpected production slowdowns.

To make a flu vaccine, the virus must be grown in eggs and then harvested and processed.

H1N1, however, turns out to grow much more slowly than the flu strains that cause typical seasonal flu, Dr. Fleming said.

Public health officials had expected that by now King County would have received 250,000 doses. Instead only about 85,000 have arrived.

Dr. Fleming said another 52,000 doses are “in the mail” and that it was expected that 50,000 to 70,000 additional doses will arrive each week thereafter.

Eventually, enough vaccine will be available so that everyone who wants the vaccine will be able to get it, Fleming said.

“But it will still be weeks until supply matches demand,” Dr. Fleming added.

Some health providers in the area have received limited amounts of vaccine in the past few weeks, and it is hoped that next week, or by the week after, supplies will start reaching pharmacies making it easier for people to get vaccinated.

Supplies of the antiviral drug oseltamivir, marketed as Tamiflu, have been released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Strategic National Stockpile and shipped to eight local pharmacies, Dr. Fleming said.

“There is no danger of a shortage of this medicine,” Dr. Fleming said.

However, the drug should only be used by people who fall ill and are at risk for complications, Dr. Fleming warned, because overuse of the drug may lead to rise of untreatable, drug-resistant strains.

H1N1 “unfortunately, has shown a proclivity ti rapidly develop resistance,” he said.

Because the drug is most effective if started within 24 to 48 hours of developing symptoms, people who are at high risk for complications should talk to their physicians about getting a prescription for the drug so they can have it filled quickly should they fall ill.

People who are considered at highest risk for complications are:

• Pregnant women
• Children and young adults 6 months to 24 years of age
• Persons ages 25-64 years old with health conditions that could make them dangerously ill from the flu (such as those with heart disease, diabetes, asthma, or anyone with a lowered immunity)
• Household members and caregivers of children younger than 6 months in age; and
• Healthcare workers and emergency medical service providers

To learn more:

• Visit Public Health – Seattle King County’s H1N1 flu information Web page.
• Or call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464), which has nurses standing by to answer your questions 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Read Katherine Long’s article in the Seattle Times.