One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.The number of Hoosiers sick from the flu decreased significantly during the past week as the second wave of the H1N1 pandemic eases its grip on Indiana.
Only 2 percent to 4 percent of patients visiting emergency rooms and doctor’s offices complained of H1N1 symptoms, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
That’s down from record highs of 13 percent several weeks ago. But according to a weekly flu report the state released Wednesday, the number of sick patients for this time of year is higher for 2009 than in the past two years.
The regular flu season runs from January to March. H1N1, also known as swine flu, is considered the only type of flu currently circulating, but that could change as the regular flu season nears, health officials said.
Parkview’s emergency rooms are seeing few patients with H1N1 symptoms, spokesman John Perlich said.
The number of patients visiting Lutheran Health Network emergency rooms and RediMed clinics complaining of H1N1 symptoms stabilized in early November and has decreased steadily, Lutheran Network spokesman Geoff Thomas said.
Medical staff are seeing a typical number of flu patients for this time of year – just before the regular flu season begins, Thomas said.
School absentee rates are back to normal as well, said Dr. Deborah McMahan, Allen County’s health commissioner.
“We’re very happy about this,” she said of the decline.
That might also have caused the slump in the number of people seeking protection from the H1N1 vaccine in recent weeks.
Last week, state health officials announced that beginning Dec. 20 the vaccine will be available to the general public regardless of age or health condition. Before then, the state plans to focus on vaccinating schoolchildren and college students.
Health officials continue to urge Hoosiers to get the vaccine, even if they experienced minor flu-like symptoms earlier in the fall.
Without testing, there is no way to know for sure whether it was the H1N1 virus causing their ailment, said John Silcox, local health department spokesman.
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health will gradually expand the list of who is eligible for vaccinations through its public clinics at Carew Medical Park, Silcox said.
In northeast Indiana, Noble and Steuben counties have already made the vaccine available to the general public.
As of Tuesday, more than 730,000 Hoosiers have been vaccinated against H1N1, according to the state.
Twenty percent of residents considered at high risk for the flu have received the vaccine as opposed to 11 percent of the overall population.
One person died last week due to the H1N1 virus or complications.
The person was between 25 and 49 – the age group with the highest number of fatalities, according to the state. The state did not disclose where the patient lived.
Thirty-four people have died from the virus since June, including three in Allen County.
