Residents get their H1N1 shots

Four-year-old Eduardo Sanchez covered his eyes with his hands as his mother Carla received a vaccination Thursday against swine flu.

Although H1N1 cases have dropped in the U.S. since October, health officials are taking few chances that a second wave of the virus could impact the area.

"With this kind of virus, there is always the possibility of a resurgence," said Bonnie Davies, Colusa County Public Health director of nursing.

Sanchez, like many who received their vaccination in Arbuckle, said life is too busy to get sick.

"I'm not taking any chances," the 36-year-old mother said. "My kids have all had their shots, so I need to stay well to take care of them."

Since the virus first surfaced last spring, 8,400 people have been hospitalized with H1N1 flu in California and 479 have died, according to statistics released this week by the California Department of Health.

In just three hours Thursday, the county vaccinated 364 people at the Arbuckle Fire Hall, and has six more clinics scheduled throughout the county over the next three weeks.

Davies said given the number of people vaccinated Thursday, she expects the public's desire for the vaccinations to remain high.

Although Colusa public health officials did not track cases of H1N1 in the county, beyond those requiring hospitalization, high absenteeism reported in work places and schools are indications that the virus is still present.

"We know it is still out there," Davies said.

The Center for Disease Control reported Friday that influenza-related illnesses decreased this week over the previous week in nearly all regions of the country, except for region 9, comprised of California, Nevada and Arizona, which reported elevated activity.

Almost all the influenza viruses being identified in the U.S. is the 2009 H1N1 influenza A, the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, the Center reported.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

All Colusa County residents are eligible and encouraged to get the H1N1 vaccine, Davies said, regardless of age and health status.

The county previously vaccinated children, who are most susceptible to the virus, pregnant women and adults with underlying health conditions.

About 250 children in the U.S. have died from the H1N1 virus since April, the Center reported.

Health officials remind the public to prevent the spread of influenza by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands frequently and staying home when sick.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.