H1N1 flu fight goes on

State and local health experts believe the second wave of the H1N1 flu virus has passed, but warned against people thinking they shouldn't get vaccinated or take other protections.

So far, three people in the Mid-Valley region have died of complications related to the virus, which is also known as swine flu. All three were in Yuba County, while both Sutter and Colusa counties have had a handful of hospitalizations from H1N1 but no deaths so far.

Ken August, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, said reports of new infections continued to decline in the last few weeks, but it's too soon to say whether the virus' peak is truly past or if another wave could hit.

"Influenza is very unpredictable," August said, pointing out how flu viruses typically peak during the winter, but H1N1 seemed to spread most quickly last spring and summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

In Sutter and Yuba counties, health officials said they'll continue to offer free H1N1 flu clinics through the rest of the month, but they've noticed declining interest from residents.

"We're still working to increase the number of people vaccinated overall in our county," said Michele Blake, a public health program coordinator with Sutter County. She said the county still has ample supply of the vaccination, though she couldn't provide a specific number.

In Yuba County, health officer Joe Cassady said he believes the virus has passed its prime.

"It did not mutate, and I don't think it had a mortality as high as some feared," Cassady said. "It appears to have been more like a regular flu season."

He said the county has about 1,400 doses of H1N1 vaccine remaining out of an initial allotment of 1,700.

But August said federal and state officials are still monitoring the disease, and said people shouldn't assume they can skip getting a vaccine if they haven't already.

Part of the reason for continued concern, August said, is H1N1's tendency to strike young children, pregnant women and people under the age of 50 hardest. Those three groups aren't usually hit as hard by seasonal flu.

After she got her shot at a Yuba County clinic in Wheatland Tuesday morning, Shirley O'Berry, 70, said she was surprised to hear people in her age group, for reasons health officials can't fully explain, seem to have a partial immunity to H1N1.

"Good, we've got something going for us," O'Berry said, though she was one of only six to get the free shot during the two-hour clinic.

Among her peer group, she said, discussion of the virus has dropped nearly as much as infection rates have.

"I try to keep up with what's happening, watch CNN," she said, adding she's fanatical about avoiding germs to begin with. "It's just one more thing, take care of your body."

Health officials fear many people, if they haven't already gotten the shot, will pass it up with flu season nearly over.

"We know most people, when they think of getting vaccinated, they do it in fall or early winter," August said.

Such thinking might be incorporated into discussions now starting about the vaccine for next winter's traditional seasonal flu, August said, by making it at least partially effective against H1N1 as well.

Blake and Cassady both said they'll also keep monitoring locally for hospitalizations related to the virus.

Family members identified two of Yuba County's deaths as a result of H1N1 flu: Isela J. Morales of Olivehurst, who died last October, and Johnny Duerksen of Linda, who also died that month.

Flu Clinincs

Free public vaccination clinics against the H1N1 virus in Yuba and Sutter counties:

Yuba County: Thursday, 9-11 a.m., Prestige Assisted Living, 515 Harris St., Marysville.

• Feb. 16, 6 -8 p.m., old Wheatland Elementary School, 111 Hooper St., Wheatland.

• Feb. 21, 8 a.m. to noon, Marysville Flea Market, 1468 Simpson Lane, Linda.

• Ongoing Monday through Friday, 9-11 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m., Yuba County Health and Human Services, 5730 Packard Ave., Linda.

• • •

Sutter County: Today, 6-8 p.m., Future Fitness, 729 Wilwick Way, Yuba City.

• Feb. 16, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sutter County Library, 750 Forbes Ave., Yuba City.

• Feb. 18, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m., Hans Miller Building, Richland Housing, 420 Miles Ave., Yuba City.

• Feb. 24, 4-6 p.m., Sikh Temple Sri Guru Nanak, 2269 Bogue Road, Yuba City.

• Feb. 25, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m., Live Oak Boy Scout Building, 2670 Myrtle St., Live Oak.

More information can be found at both counties' Web sites, yuba.org and suttercounty.org.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Ben van der Meer at 749-4709 or bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com.