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Alaska reports an increase in influenza since beginning of the year

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Infectious Disease Examiner

The Alaska State Virology Laboratory has reported, after a couple months of little activity, a sharp uptick in the number of positive influenza specimens submitted to the lab.

According to an Alaska Department of Health and Social Services press release, between Nov. 28, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2010, the lab had confirmed only six cases of influenza: four type A and two type B. However, in just the past three weeks the lab has reported 44 cases of influenza A (26 H3 seasonal flu and 18 H1N1) and seven cases of influenza B (another seasonal flu strain).

State epidemiologist Dr. Beth Funk says “the flu is definitely here”. And with months left to the flu season ahead she discusses getting vaccinated. “The good news is, all three flu strains we see circulating this year are in the vaccine,” Funk said.

The 2010-2011 seasonal flu shot provides immunity to the following three strains of influenza: A/California/7/09 (H1N1)-like virus (pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus), A/Perth /16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus and the B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

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Full immunity is not developed until approximately two weeks following immunization.

All three flu strains seen circulating this year are in the vaccine
All three flu strains seen circulating this year are in the vaccine
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, Infectious Disease Examiner

With over 20 years of experience and education in microbiology and infectious diseases, Robert Herriman, MPH, M (ASCP) will educate and inform about infectious diseases rare and common, those publicized in the media and those found in your own backyard.

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