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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Dr. Karen Tait said Lake County had a second reported case of H1N1, the pandemic strain of Novel Influenza A – previously known as “swine influenza” – in the last few weeks, and she's expecting the local number of cases to increase over the coming week.
The first local case, reported late in June, was an outpatient, but since then the state and the federal Centers for Disease Control have changed reporting guidelines for the virus, limiting the formal count to hospitalized cases and deaths, Tait said.
Outside of those officially reported cases, Tait said there have been several other local outpatient cases that Public Health found out about, but which health care providers no longer are required to report to the agency.
She said the CDC changed the reporting requirements for a few reasons, one of them being that they're attempting to focus on the more serious cases, which provides more meaningful data and helps them prioritize the groups they'll vaccinate.
The California Department of Health on Monday reported that there have been 1,057 hospitalizations and 104 fatalities for H1N1 in the state. Nationwide, there have been 7,511 hospitalizations and 477 deaths, according to the CDC.
In its severity, the H1N1 virus has resembled the seasonal flu, said Tait. However, its severe cases have tended to target children and young adults, whereas she said seasonal influenza tends to be more problematic for older adults and very young children.
H1N1 also has been problematic for pregnant women. Tait said a disproportionate numbers of cases have been found among pregnant women; approximately one-third of California women of child-bearing age hospitalized for H1N1 have been pregnant.
One of the local cases Tait heard of involved a pregnant woman diagnosed with H1N1. “Fortunately she never required admission to the hospital, so we lucked out there,” Tait said.
Both forms of influenza can cause severe illness in people of any age with chronic medical conditions, she said.
Another possible risk factor Tait mentioned is obesity. “That hasn't really been definitely listed as a risk factor but there's some significant obesity in patients who have been hospitalized or died throughout the states, and so they're looking at that as a possible risk factor.”
Tait said she's expecting more cases of H1N1 to show up this fall, at about the same time as the normal seasonal flu begins to make its rounds.
Tait said it will be important than ever this year to avoid getting the flu and to get immunized for both flu strains as soon as vaccines become available.
She said there will be two separate influenza vaccines – one for the usual seasonal influenza strains and one for H1N1.
The seasonal flu vaccine is expected to arrive earlier this year, with inoculations or a nasal spray application to become available later this month or in September, Tait said.
She said the seasonal flu vaccine is especially important for adults 50 and older; children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday; pregnant women; nursing home residents; health care workers; individuals with a chronic health condition; people who live with or care for an adult over 50, a children under 5 or anyone with a chronic health condition.
The H1N1 vaccine currently is in development and is anticipated to be ready by October, said Tait. Supplies of the vaccine are expected to be limited.
Tait said Public Health will follow federal guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control in recommending who should be vaccinated earliest, with the focus likely to be on children, pregnant women, health care workers (including emergency medical responders), children and adults under
age 65 with certain chronic medical problems, and parents/caretakers of people at high risk of complications or children under 6 months of age.
When supplies of the vaccine are more readily available, it will be recommended for everyone over 6 months of age, said Tait. Vaccination against H1N1 likely will require two doses approximately one month apart for all age groups.
While Public Health gears up to do some vaccinating, Tait said the agency will be working with several local pharmacies, which also will be offering vaccinations. She said they've had the legal ability to do so for some time. That will help get the vaccines out to more people.
“We are so small ourselves that we are really going to depend on the medical community to help us with this,” Tait said.
Health officials continue to urge simply precautions, including regular hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes, to help prevent spread of either type of influenza. As well, people who are sick with influenza symptoms should stay home from work or school, generally for one week after
the onset of illness or until fever-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Healthy people experiencing mild illness can be treated at home.
Tait said those who have chronic medical conditions, are under age five, are pregnant or are experiencing shortness of breath or other severe symptoms should consult a health provider early when
ill with influenza-like illness. Symptoms include fever of 100 degrees or higher, sore throat and/or cough.
For more information contact Lake County Public Health, 707-263-1090, or visit the California Department of Public Health online at www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza(Flu).aspx or www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/SwineInfluenza.aspx .
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
LAKEPORT – The WON summer series of bass fishing competition returned to Clear Lake Saturday for a one-day tournament.
The winning team for the weekend event brought in more than 24 pounds of bass.
Twenty-six boats, each floating two amateur or semi professional bass fishermen, pushed off from the Skylark Motel in Lakeport Saturday morning.
For the competition all anglers were limited to the frog lure, a rubber lure that really does look like a 2- to 3-inch-long frog.
Tournament rules are very specific and tournament officials inspected each boat. All containers and built-in cavities in the competitors' bass boats were inspected before they were allowed to push away from the docks.
Tournament director Bret Smith indicated that none of the tournament rules had been violated and all the boats left the docks with a clean slate.
Six hours later the boats began their well-timed and well coordinated return to the Skylark docks.
Boat after boat approached the floating docks. One at a time, contestants leaped from their boats with two or three heavy water filled sacks of thrashing fish.
Other boats approached and waited 200 or more feet off shore waiting for their opportunity to drop their cargo.
The day's winning team was Dave Erwin and Jim Stich, whose fish weighed 24.04 pounds. Second place went to Rob Bass and Mike Turner, with 22 pounds.
Jesse Forthun of San Diego had the day's big fish, weighing in at 9.02 pounds. He placed fifth overall.
The series is run by the Western Outdoor News Bass organization. Unlike purely professional or pro-am tournament competition each boat had to pay there own way to participate. No corporate sponsorship for entry fees or travel expenses is allowed.
E-mail Harold LaBonte at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY – Local firefighters once again are working on summertime fires burning around the state.
Lake County fire districts have crews on fires in Shasta County, according to Northshore Fire Protection District Chief Jim Robbins.
For the last 12 days firefighters from Northshore, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Lake County and South Lake County fire district have gone from one incident to another, Robbins said.
Robbins said when they were released from the Burney incident, the state's Office of Emergency Services didn't let them come home, sending them instead to Lewiston.
Lewiston, located in Trinity County, was where the Coffin Fire was burning, according to Cal Fire. It began Aug. 12 and burned 1,200 acres. It's reported to be 100-percent contained.
On Friday Robbins said Northshore switched in three fresh firefighters and a battalion chief, allowing exhausted firefighters to come home. They've been working a 24-hour on, 24-off shift.
The county's different districts will switch out their firefighters at different times, according to Robbins.
The SHU Lightning Incident, located in the Burney area in Shasta County, burned 17,623 acres and was 85-percent contained as of Saturday evening, according to Cal Fire. The fire, which began Aug. 1, is expected to be contained on Sunday.
Cal Fire reports that there are several other large fires burning around the state: the La Brea Fire, located 21 miles east of Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County, began Aug. 8, has burned 84,150 acres and is 25-percent contained; the Lockheed Fire, burning in the Bonny Doon area of Santa Cruz, began Aug. 12, has burned 6,843 acres and is 40-percent contained; the Corral Fire, located in Alameda County's Altamont Pass, began Aug. 13, has burned 15,000 acres and is 60-percent contained; and the Yuba Fire, located in the Dobbins area of Yuba County, which began Aug. 14, has burned 2,000 acres and is 15-percent contained.
The governor's office reported that state, federal and local personnel and assets have been activated and are deployed to assist with firefighting efforts statewide, including 6,853 fire personnel, 711 fire engines, 187 hand crews, 68 helicopters, 46 fixed winged aircraft, 109 bulldozers and 117 water tenders.
The fires around the state have burned well over 100,000 acres, damaged two outbuildings, destroyed two residential structures and one commercial building, and between 2,700 and 3,100 residences have been evacuated statewide.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The fire, which was contained on Friday evening, was located in steep, remote terrain one mile from the Summit Springs Trailhead, approximately 25 miles west of Stonyford, on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest.
On Saturday forest spokesperson Tamara Schmidt said more detailed mapping reduced the fire's total estimated acreage from 350 to 287 acres.
Schmidt said the expected control date is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Forest officials continue to urge members of the public to avoid traveling or hiking in the fire area. Trailheads in close proximity of the fire are posted. There are no campground or road closures at this time.