H1N1 ‘widespread’ in North Carolina

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Outbreak of the H1N1 flu remains widespread in North Carolina, even as the number of cases being reported nationwide continues to decline.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 32 states reported widespread influenza activity for the week ending Nov. 21. That’s down from 43 states a week earlier.

Testing showed that 99 percent of those with flu-like symptoms had the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

In North Carolina, state officials report that 459 people were hospitalized for influenza-like illnesses, including H1N1 and seasonal flu, for the week ending Saturday.

It is recommended that children under age 5, pregnant women, adults over 65 and those with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, receive vaccinations because of risk for complications.

The CDC says there were 35 pediatric deaths nationwide in the week that ended Nov. 21, including 27 laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1. Since April 26, there have been 198 H1N1 confirmed pediatric deaths.

The state had received more than 1.5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine as of Nov. 20.

Local health-care systems also have restricted visitors to reduce the potential spread of the disease.

Carolinas HealthCare System and Novant Health Inc. announced in late September that visitors under 18 would not be allowed at their Charlotte-area hospitals. CaroMont Health, parent of Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, also is restricting visitors under the age of 18.

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