LOS ANGELES -- A trickle of aching, coughing, sniffling
youngsters and senior citizens into local emergency rooms has
prompted some physicians to declare an early start of flu season.
And to head off a pandemic like last year's swine flu outbreak,
physicians are already starting to inoculate patients with a
vaccine that protects against three strains of the flu, including
H1N1. Several commercial pharmacy chains are also vaccinating
customers on a walk-in basis, while hospitals and Los Angeles
County are preparing to open flu-shot clinics next month.
"This is the start of the influenza season. We have yet to see
a lot of cases at Providence Saint Joseph, but it is coming," said
Dr. Angelique Campen, assistant director of emergency medicine at
the Burbank hospital.
At the emergency department at Northridge Hospital Medical
Center, at least seven flu patients have come in this week -- most
of the cases involving children or senior citizens.
"Normally we would only see very little activity for this time
of year," said Dr. Stephen Jones, the hospital's director of
emergency services. "It's still low activity, but more than we
expect."
Worries about unemployment, home foreclosures and other
socioeconomic factors can wear down the resistance to infection, he
said, so the flu can hit those who are stressed especially hard.
But what worries Jones and other physicians is that complacency
may settle in now that concerns about H1N1 -- commonly known as
swine flu -- have been forgotten.
Last year, Los Angeles County health officials declared the H1N1
flu an outbreak "beyond containment." Emergency rooms were
monitored and surveillance was increased for any indication of
swine flu, a rare infection that ultimately killed about 600 people
and infected 9,000 others in California.
Crowds lined up for hours for scarce shots during last fall's
flu pandemic, when infections peaked well before enough vaccine
could be produced.
This year, however, there is an ample supply of the vaccine. The
state's Department of Public Health has received 700,000 doses to
distribute to counties and clinics around California.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is
recommending that everyone -- except babies younger than 6 months --
get a flu shot.
"We're not seeing any (flu) activity yet, which is good," said
nurse Debra Rosen, director of public health at the Northeast
Valley Health Corp. "We have just received our supply. Things are
starting earlier than usual."
Kaiser Permanente patients are being encouraged to get
vaccinated during routine doctors' visits.
"The reaction we get from most is, 'Isn't it too early?"' said
Dr. Arleen Rockoff, chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser
Permanente's Woodland Hills Medical Center.
"No it isn't," she said. "We're lucky we have the vaccine
this early."
Valley Presbyterian Medical Center in Van Nuys has not yet seen
an increase in the number of flu cases compared with prior years,
said Dr. Marco Hernandez, an associate director of emergency
services. Nevertheless, the staff remains vigilant.
"We continue to encourage patients with flu-like symptoms to
wear a mask and encourage frequent hand washing with patients and
staff," Hernandez said.
Across California, state health officials are reporting sporadic
flu activity.
State officials will hold a news conference today to discuss a
new public service announcement campaign regarding the flu.
"It's not unexpected to see cases in September of flu," said
Michael Sicilia, spokesman for the state's Department of Public
Health.
If there is anything positive to come from last year's H1N1
pandemic, it is that people have learned to cover a cough or sneeze
with their elbow instead of their hands, Sicilia said. And they are
also washing their hands more frequently.
In a study released this week, researchers with the American
Society for Microbiology who observed hand washing in restrooms in
major cities said that 85 percent of adults are washing their hands
after using public facilities, compared to 77 percent in 2007. The
2010 figure was the highest rate since such studies began in 1996.
Practicing good hygiene is essential, as is getting a flu shot,
said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the Los Angeles County public health
director.
"No flu is fun to get," he said. "Complacency is the enemy."
c.2009 Los Angeles Daily News