During the latest week, the Orange County Healthcare Agency reported 4 more OC H1N1 deaths, bringing the county pandemic total to 44. H1N1 ICU Hospitalizations in Orange County now total 201, up from 186 patients in the previous week. While Dr. Mark Horton, Director of the California Department of Public Health, CDPH, indicated there is a moderating trend emerging nationally, California is one of 25 states where the disease is still considered to be “widespread”.

Yesterday, Dr. Horton said “There is a trend at the national level that they are seeing less hospitalizations per week being reported, less deaths per week, a decrease in the number of influenza like illnesses being reported in physician offices, and there is some talk at the national level that we may be seeing the earliest signs that this particular wave of the pandemic may be peaking.”

But, the hospitalizations and deaths continue at higher than normal levels for this time of year. The statewide total hospitalizations for this pandemic increased by another 278 patients last week, bringing the total to 7,546, and with another 31 people dying from the swine flu last week, the statewide death toll is now at 397.

After reviewing the weekly hospitalizations and deaths for both the state and Orange County, it is difficult to identify clear trends. Hospitalizations statewide last week, at 278, were less than half of the previous week, which saw an additional 794 people hospitalized. But the week before that was also much lower at 405 and the number of victims doubled the next week. Thus, there is not a clear trend of the disease mitigating in California.

Dr. Horton said “We continue to consider H1N1 to be a significant threat here in California.” He indicated that CDPH estimates 4 or 5 million Californians have been infected. This means that the rest of the state’s population remains susceptible to the illness. “We have over 30 million that have yet to be infected, so we still have a huge reservoir of susceptibility out in our community.”

Even though there are some signs of the swine flu peaking nationally, Dr. Horton continues to stress the importance of getting vaccinated. He said “It could well be predicted that in fact we Will begin soon to see a resurgence of flu illness within our community.”

So, don’t think that you are out of swine flu danger and can skip the vaccination. Dr Horton said “The vast majority of the population remains susceptible to this virus. My opinion would be that a second wave is still very likely—there will be another wave of this disease.”

For Orange County, the Health Care Agency, HCA, continues to offer an appointment only clinic at its 17th Street facility in Santa Ana to include Orange County residents in all five target groups who do not have access to H1N1 vaccinations through their medical providers. (This includes second vaccinations for children aged six months through nine years of age.) Vaccinations are free. The target groups are:

*Pregnant women.
*Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged less than 6 months.
*Health-care and emergency medical services personnel.
*Persons aged 6 months through 24 years.
*Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

To schedule an appointment, call the Health Referral line at 1-800-564-8448, Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. H1N1 Vaccination Clinic hours:
Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed for lunch 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. daily

Click here to go to the HCA web site.

Another way to find the H1N1 vaccine is through Google. They have a zip code based locator; click here to go to the page.