Feb 4, 2010 Flu activity remains low, but it is not absent. Several primary care physicians in Columbia County reported multiple positive results on flu rapid test in pediatric patients last week. It is important to note that while flu is dramatically down over most of the country, Georgia still remains at Regional activity on the CDC map and is in the center of a South East Region that appears to be the primary focus of flu in the nation. Click on the title above to read more.

Click on title to see current graph (Jan 2, 2010) of Influenza-like illness (ILI) for the state of Georgia. This curve differs from the above curve with national data because different regions of the country are at different points in the outbreak. Georgia saw an increase in H1N1 before the rest of the US, so our decline in flu activity also began before the rest of the US. ILI has declined substantially in Georgia beginning in mid-September.

Jan 2, 2010 Only one state in the US (Alabama) is now reporting widespread H1N1 activity. Four of 10 national regions now report mildly elevated levels of influenza-like illness (ILI), and 6 report normal levels. Four deaths in children due to H1N1 were confirmed nationally this week. The total number of pediatric deaths proven or likely due to H1N1 since the second wave began in August is now 228, compared with 63 deaths from April to August 30. ... Click on title above for more information.

Feb 04: There have been 44 deaths confirmed to be due to H1N1 in Georgia since Sept 1, including one in the past week. There have been only 6 deaths in the past 2 months. Total hospitalizations due to H1N1 stands at 588, including 20 in the past week. Hospitalizations saw a steady decline after peaking in October, but there has been a sustained increase over the last 5 weeks.

Jan 21: H1N1 shots available locally Jan 8: Flu hospitalizations up: Augusta Chronicle Dec 11: H1N1 on the Decline Dec 1: More H1N1 vaccine available in Richmond County Nov 21: Local H1N1 Website Launches Nov 3: NIH says H1N1 vaccine safe Sept 20: Link between 1918 "Spanish Flu" and H1N1 Aug 30: Augusta Doctors Say "Don’t Panic" Sept 4: Swine Flu is Widespread in Georgia Already July 1: Fort Gordon confirms 18th case of Swine Flu

Jan 22: WHO statement on "fake" pandemic Jan 14 New York Times: Google Flu Trends Jan 11 Fox News: A False Pandemic? Jan 11 Reuters: US scales back H1N1 vaccine order Jan 8 2010 Reuters: New flu may be coming Dec 18 Washington Post: Number of tests for H1N1 plummets Dec 17 Bloomberg article on possible "skipped" winter flu season Dec 4: Discussion of Oseltamivir-resistant H1N1, from WHO Nov 21 Washington Post: H1N1 cases declining but may rise with holiday travel Nov 11 NY Times: Revised estimates of national deaths due to H1N1 Buyer Beware: Phony H1N1 products on the internet 2009 H1N1 Influenza Shots and Pregnant Women: Questions and Answers for Patients