Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - North Dakota influenza cases top 700

North Dakota influenza cases top 700

Dec 18, 2003 - 23:28:54 CST

By SHEENA DOOLEY, Bismarck Tribune

North Dakota Department of Health officials said Thursday the number of influenza cases in the state has climbed to more than 700, and officials only expect it to get worse.

Local emergency rooms and clinics are still being flooded with patients suffering from symptoms of influenza, officials said. Some facilities stopped testing every patient with symptoms of influenza because of a dwindling supply of testing agents, which could limit doctors' ability to give patients antiviral medications.

"We were told if we continued to use them at the pace we were, we would run out," said Dr. Craig Lambrecht, a Medcenter One emergency doctor who also is a Health Department medical officer.

As of Thursday, 706 influenza cases were reported, which surpasses last year's 653 total cases. At this time last year, only two cases were reported.

Grand Forks County has the most influenza cases in the state so far this year with 112. Burleigh County followed with 109 and Cass County with 90.

"This is the most cases I have seen at this time of the year," said Larry Shireley, state epidemiologist. "I would say this has a good chance of being the worst season ever since I've been here."

State officials said there haven't been any confirmed deaths related to influenza, but Shireley said they are checking into a couple of deaths to see if influenza was a factor.

Lambrecht said although he's seen a large number of people with symptoms of influenza, he hasn't seen a lot of patients with secondary complications, such as pneumonia. That could be a reason North Dakota hasn't had any reported deaths, Shireley said.

Both Medcenter and St. Alexius Medical Center posted signs in their entrances, reminding people to wash their hands and wear masks if they have symptoms. Neither facility has limited visitation hours, but Lambrecht said he expects to see that down the road.

Local walk-in clinics also have been hit with an increased patient load. Mid Dakota Clinic CEO Mike Tomasko said the walk-in clinic at Mid Dakota has 25 percent to 30 percent more patients than it normally sees. He said despite the increase, doctors have been able to keep patients moving through to keep the waiting time down.

"Having it (the increase in patients) this early is unusual," Tomasko said. "After Christmas is when we usually see it pick up."

Health department officials said North Dakota's limited supply of vaccine is being shifted to areas in the state that ran out and from the public to private sector.

Because of the vaccine shortage, the state is recommending children 6 to 23 months and children under age 9 with underlying medical conditions only get one dose of the vaccine. The vaccine was licensed to be given in two doses.

Shireley said it's hard to say how effective a single dose will be in children, but the new recommendation will allow more children who are at high risk to be vaccinated.

The state ordered 1,000 additional doses of the vaccine for children that would arrive in January, but it's uncertain whether they will receive that many, Shireley said.

Because of the limited supply of vaccine, the state recommends flu shots only be given to people who are considered high risk. Children 6 to 23 months of age, people with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women who are 14 weeks or more along and people aged 65 and older are considered high risk.

Healthy people aged 5 to 49 can get a nasal spray vaccination called FluMist, which is still widely available. Because it is new this year, insurance companies weren't covering the nasal spray, which usually costs more than $50. But with the vaccine shortage, Aetna and Signa health insurance companies have agreed to cover the costs, Shireley said.

The state also has talked with Blue Cross Blue Shield about covering the cost of the FluMist.

(Reach reporter Sheena Dooley at 250-8225 or sheenadooley@ndonline.com.)

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Comments

sister wrote on Dec 12, 2007 11:03 PM:

" your missed dearly buddy. "

guess wrote on Feb 13, 2007 12:19 PM:

" Thanks for putting MY efforts into the paper. You rock. No Alyysa, this is my idea. "

Alyssa Roller wrote on Jan 1, 2007 10:27 PM:

" hey . thanks for putting that sweet article in the news paper i just love when people can read about me ! well thanks love : alyssa roller "

Question? wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:52 AM:

" How come is the school improvement director for DPI not a licensed teacher? Is this a patern the State Superintendent of Public Instruction has been doing for years? I've heard rumors to that effect. It would be nice if someone would check this out - and not only in the school improvment department. I think the State Superintendent should be held to the same standard as public schools are held to in North Dakota. Currently when schools hire teachers who do not have a current North Dakota Teacher's License, someone (the teacher) pays a fine ( I think it is about $ 100. per day.) I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander. DPI should be held to the same standard as teachers and the schools. "

Correction wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:38 AM:

" The article states that "The plan provides further details to state assessments, which are currently given to fourth-, eighth- and 12th-graders and will eventually be expanded to other grades." This is incorrect. For the past 2 years the state assessments were administered to students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11. Twelfth grade students haven't been assessed for 3 years. "

Let's do it!! wrote on Oct 19, 2006 5:34 PM:

" Lets give back the whole state to the Native Peoples of this land. It's there's anyway!! "

Buck wrote on Aug 30, 2006 9:59 AM:

" Or whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaat! "

Kristin wrote on Aug 24, 2006 2:09 AM:

" Well i was searching for my friend Kelly Winn the snow boarder i meant from the max air show at a Carnival in Carbondale IL... i use to work with Harris Exoitics and we were set up right behind him... Kelly and i kept in touch for a while after but i guess i know why the letters stopped now. you know it sucks to have had to find out this was. i still thought of him from time to time hoping one day we'd see eachother again i cant believe i had to find out this way years later what had a happen. RIP Kelly. Im just sorry it took me this long to find out.. "

ummyeah wrote on Aug 16, 2006 10:39 AM:

" These comments aren't even about the article. Wow. "

washingtongirl1 wrote on Aug 3, 2006 3:30 AM:

" Wow! These comments don't even seem to apply...? Far too confusing for those who read, to even try to care. Hmmm, who screens this anyway? "

L33tmaster wrote on Jul 28, 2006 7:51 AM:

" I hate the government. They have no right to tell me what I can or can't do. I'll gamble online whenever i damn please. "

hunkpapa wrote on May 24, 2006 9:32 AM:

" The Gaming Division of North Dakota need to furhter investigate this man. He has been given a license to steal just as he did at Standing Rock. Banks accounts and other financial information needs to be collected and examined on how he was able to obtain the funds to purchase the establishment in Fargo. One would believe it was from the money that was obtined from the Standing Rock Tribe. Be where of this individual. "

Shannon wrote on May 16, 2006 11:49 AM:

" Whay happpend to this women is unbelivable but the article was to discriptive of the scene. Yes, we are curois about the events that surrounded her murder but to what extent? Could you emagine if you read about your grandmother this way.... what would be your feelings then?! "

berber wrote on May 8, 2006 6:50 PM:

" what is another bird in the pelican family "

kathy toohey wrote on May 4, 2006 12:26 AM:

" I never fully understood the vital lifeline that Greyhound is, or was according to the article. It is somewhat confusing, you don't know if they are going or coming back. All of the stories are everyday stories and these are the ones that should be heard, and considered in such a decision, community, and communities that were all connected by this one bus line, and the jobs that were connected with this company, to rid these individuals of this one required mode of transportation is totally uncalled for and should be rectified immediately. We have to remember what we are dealing with here, humans who by helping them, they help one another, and it continues on,and all concerned will benefit and they will make their money, they have to remember maybe their pockets are to full and might need some individuals to be held accountable for the reasons that this is happening at all. "

Bob Armentrout wrote on Apr 17, 2006 9:21 AM:

" Just a quick note, my wife (who is from the La Crosse, WI area) and I saw about 200 white pelicans on the Mississippi River, just south of Stoddard WI. She told me she had never seen pelicans in this area before. We saw the flock first on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006. Today, April 17, the flock has scattered some, mostly appearing to be in breeding pairs. If we see any nesting, we will post additional comments. "

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