Flu-like illnesses have declined slightly in Central Virginia but precautions have not, health officials said Wednesday.
“We can’t let our guard down yet,” said Kathy Bailey, director of infection control at Centra Health in Lynchburg.
People with respiratory problems still may be asked to put on masks when they visit some doctors’ offices, and patients may not find any magazines to read while they wait.
The Lynchburg area continues to have one of Virginia’s highest rates of flu-like illnesses, according to state Department of Health statistics. The agency said 10 to 20 percent of people who visited Lynchburg-region clinics and emergency rooms last week reported influenza symptoms.
Last week’s rate was lower than the 20-plus percent who reported flu symptoms during the week that ended Oct. 24, when the Lynchburg region had one of the four highest rates in the state.
School absences, particularly in Campbell and Bedford counties, peaked at about the same time.
One reason for continued safety measures is seasonal flu, which is expected to ramp up just as the October spike in flu-like illnesses appears to be trending downward, Bailey said.
Another reason for caution is that experts don’t know what will happen next with the H1N1, or swine flu, virus. Such pandemics have been known to make comebacks.
“We are still encouraging those in high-priority groups to get vaccinated” against H1N1, said Shayla Anderson, health educator for the Central Virginia Health District.
The high-priority groups for the H1N1 vaccine include anyone under age 25, people who work in health care or child care, and those with existing health risks.
The H1N1 vaccine still isn’t widely available, but after high-priority folks eventually are treated the health department urges everyone else to get the swine flu vaccine, Anderson said.
Bailey, at Centra Health, said the company’s hospitals and nursing homes would continue to require that people under 18 not visit patients or residents.
In addition, Bailey said, families that are bringing a child in for a sick visit or test are being asked to make arrangements to care for their other children without bringing them to the hospital or doctor’s office.
“Seasonal flu is on the horizon now, so very shortly we can expect our usual flu season,” Bailey said. “Our intent is to leave these precautionary measures in place until seasonal flu would typically end.
“At that point we will evaluate what is going on with new viruses like H1N1,” Bailey said.
Staff writer Jessie Pounds contributed
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