by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

Outbreaks of flu-like illness in Minnesota schools has decreased for a third week in a row, having Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) officials speculating that the second wave of novel H1N1 is receding.

“I am optimistic that we are on the downswing of our second wave,” said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist.

Minnesota State Epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield is optimistic that the second wave of novel HiN1 flu is dissipating in Minnesota. But health department officials still stress the need for taking flu precautions such as washing hands, staying home when sick, getting vaccinated.

(Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

During the week of Nov. 8-14, just nine Minnesota schools reported outbreaks of flu-like symptoms among students, according to MDH.

The week before, the number stood at 40.

Lynfield cautioned that the second wave of H1N1 — the first wave peaking in June — could linger for weeks more.

People still need to get vaccinated, continue to take precautions like frequent hand washing, covering coughs, staying home when sick, MDH officials stress.

Possible third wave

It’s possible a third wave of H1N1 could roll over the state.

But MDH officials aren’t speculating. “That is really hard to say,” said Lynfield of predicting an arrival.

Rather than H1N1, the next wave of flu appearing in the state could be seasonal flu, she pointed out.

Seasonal flu often begins to appear around December, Lynfield noted.

Although MDH officials call the arrival of the H1N1 vaccine shipments into the state as “fluid,” some 825,000 doses of the vaccine have been shipped to the state by the federal government.

Records show that some 92,000 Minnesotans have been vaccinated, but MDH Director of Infectious Disease Epidemiology Kristen Ehresmann indicated the actual number is likely considerably higher.

Reporting is lagging behind, she explained.

718,000 Minnesotans in high risk group

The MDH estimates that about 718,000 Minnesotans fall into the high-risk group for H1N1, but speak in terms of more than two million Minnesotans needing to be vaccinated.

Besides decreasing numbers of outbreaks in schools, another indicator that the second wave of H1N1 is diminishing is the Minnesota FluLine.

Since the flu line began taking calls on Oct. 21, some 22,000 calls have been received.

About half were taken the first week of flu line operations, said Terri Hyduke, chief executive officer, Children’s Physician Network.

The network is involved in flu line operations.

Shorter waits

Although the media reported that some callers to the flu line had to wait for hours to talk to a nurse, Hyduke said callers now need to wait  as little as five minutes.

The flu line number is 1-866-259-4655.

Besides outbreaks in nine schools, the MDH also reports two outbreaks of flu in long term care facilities — officials sense that all the recent outbreaks in these facilities have been H1N1.

They do not believe the season flu is yet in Minnesota.

Five flu-related deaths were confirmed last week, all occurring in Greater Minnesota counties.

Since Sept. 1, there has been 1,439 confirmed H1N1 hospitalizations in the state.