From: http://www.onThesource.com/
For the fifth week in a row, the number of H1N1 flu cases in Minnesota has declined, buttressing health officials's belief that the current wave of the outbreak has peaked
The state's Health Department reported today that even though the number of deaths attributed to the H1N1 strain remains high, no schools or long-term care facilities reported outbreaks during the past week.
Department officials said they downgraded the severity of the pandemic from "widespread"
In the past week, 10 more deaths associated with the flu have been confirmed statewide; seven of those were H1N1-associated deaths.
One of the deaths, of a child with pre-existing health problems, was caused by seasonal influenza It was the first child killed by that strain during the current flu season.
Since the outbreak began, 44 deaths have been reported, 39 of them confirmed H1N1 cases.
The deaths are a lagging indicator of the pandemic because it takes several weeks for laboratories to confirm the strain.
The number of Minnesotans hospitalized with confirmed H1N1 cases has continued to decline, to 21 in the past week. Since Sept. 1, 1,534 confirmed H1N1 influenza hospitalizations have been reported.
Outpatient clinics across the state also reported decreases in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms.
Despite the continued good news, department officials say the H1N1 outbreak could easily spike again, even as seasonal flu is still coming.
With the first cases of seasonal flu expected to start appearing in December or January in Minnesota, a third wave of H1N1 could hit the state in January or February.
Because of those facts, health officials are still strongly encouraging those at high risk to get a vaccine.
This week, the department will posted a list of H1N1 vaccine clinics on its website, a service it provides every year for seasonal flu-shot clinics.
Those seeking vaccine can also check with their health care providers or local health departments.
For now, the vaccine is still restricted to high-risk groups: anyone 6 months to 24 years old; pregnant women and people caring for infants under 6 months of age; people 25 to 64 with underlying chronic conditions; health workers and emergency responders.
Minnesota health care providers have received about 1 million doses of H1N1 vaccine. Officials say they hope to eventually immunize about 5.4 million Minnesotans.
