Posted on: Thursday, April 7, 2005
Statistics indicate flu cases declining
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i's late-peaking flu season appears to be on the decline.
"Hopefully, we're moving in a good direction," said department spokeswoman Laura Lott.
Hawai'i's traditional influenza season occurs between January and March. This year, a greater number of cases started showing up in mid-February and continued until the week of March 19.
Nationally, only 3 percent of patient visits during that week were due to flu-like illness.
Even so, Hawai'i was fortunate to avoid a severe flu season with no widespread outbreaks or out-of-the-ordinary patterns, health officials said.
To get a flu shot, check the resource list on the state Health Department Web site, www.hawaii.gov/health, or call Aloha United Way at 211 and ask where a vaccine is available. It's not too late to get a flu shot this season. Until then, doctors recommend that people wash their hands to help fight off the flu. "And it's never too early to talk to your doctor now about ordering vaccine for the next season. They can preorder now," Lott said.
Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.
State Department of Health statistics show that the number of doctor's visits for flu-like illness peaked at 8.6 percent of all complaints the week of March 19 and dropped to 7.3 percent the following week.
A nationwide flu vaccine shortage sparked concern as millions of people who routinely get the annual shot found that there wouldn't be enough doses to go around. Hawai'i was in better shape than some states because 230,000 doses of flu vaccine arrived in the Islands, in contrast to some states that got very few doses.
Getting a flu shot
