SYRACUSE -- H1N1 "Swine Flu" has all but disappeared in Onondaga County. County Health Commissioner Dr. Cynthia Morrow says there have been no new cases of H1N1 in the past three weeks, and only one confirmed case in all of February. "In the month (February) when we would normally see our greatest flu activity, we have seen no flu activity in three weeks."
The Onondaga County Health Department saw two waves of Swine Flu. Last spring there were 790 cases. From last fall to date, there were 1,326 reported cases for a total of 2,116 cases.
There were six confirmed deaths in Onondaga County due to Swine Flu. Many more cases went unreported, but lately it's all but disappeared. "It's too early." Morrow warned, "We still have... a whole spring to look forward to and influenza could come back."
Statewide the trend is much the same. For the week ending February 20th, the New York State Health Department reports 93 new cases of type "A" influenza, with no deaths due to H1N1.
The "good news (is) that it didn't mutate but again influenza's unpredictable so I'm very thankful that the vaccaine got out to people and hopefully made a significant impact." Morrow said.
The Health Commissioner says researchers are working on next year's vaccine and H1N1 will be included in future flu shots.
