The H1N1 influenza appears to have peaked in the Denver-Boulder metropolitan area, Colorado health officials said today.
Data from several tracking reports indicate the peak of hospitalization and influenza-like illnesses occurred during the week ending Oct. 10, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.
However, the agency warned that this is only the beginning of a decline and Colorado remains in the middle of a historic influenza season.
“Our surveillance of flu activity in the Denver area the past three weeks has shown a leveling off and decline in the number of hospitalized cases being reported,” said Ned Calonge, the state’s chief medical officer. “However, it is still vitally important for Coloradans in the vaccine priority groups to get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.”
So far the state of Colorado has received approximately 270,000 doses.
Calonge said that as the vaccination needs of health care workers are met, vaccine distribution will then be extended to other priority groups.
The officials said they still expect the total number of H1N1 hospitalized cases and deaths to increase although the epidemic appears to have reached its peak in the metro area.
The high-risk groups advised to get H1N1 vaccinations as early as possible are individuals who may experience complications from H1N1.
They include:
Through Oct. 24, a total of 1,306 hospitalizations in 46 Colorado counties have been reported. Twenty-five deaths have also been reported.
State laboratory results show that more than 99 percent of the influenza viruses currently circulating in Colorado are the 2009 H1N1 virus.
Individuals with questions about the H1N1 are encouraged to call the public health help line at 877-462-2911.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
