Risk of Flu Virus Not Going Away
Save Email Print
Bookmark and Share
Updated: 9:30 AM Feb 18, 2010
Risk of Flu Virus Not Going Away
El Paso County
The H1N1 virus is still out there, according to the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment. The seasonal flu is also still out. But officials are not seeing much of either.
Posted: 9:26 PM Feb 17, 2010
Reporter: Rick Montanez
Email Address: RMontanez@kktv.com
width:320 and height: 240 and picwidth: 213 and pciheight: 159
Font Size:

The H1N1 virus is still out there, according to the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment. The seasonal flu is also still out. But officials are not seeing much of either.

Health officials warn that both flu strains may be taking a break, but possibly not for long. Experts also say there may be another wave of H1N1. The health department reports an unexpected drop in cases of either flu strain.

"It is too early to tell and too early to predict what's going to happen for the remainder of the season," said Dr. Bernadette Albanese, the Medical director of El Paso County Department of Health and Environment. While cases of the flu virus have been sparse lately, people still need to protect themselves. Albanese says it's estimated that one in five people in the United States has been vaccinated against the H1N1 flu.

"It's still possible that H1N1 will reemerge sometime later this winter," said Dr. Albanese. And it's still possible for the seasonal flu to finally make it's typical yearly appearance.

All of the seasonal flu vaccines have been given out already, but there is still plenty of H1N1 vaccine for those who have not received it yet.

The health department holds regular community H1N1 flu vaccine clinics. One is at The Citadel Mall at 750 Citadel Drive East in Colorado Springs. The hours are Monday from 2 to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.