Flu-like activity increasing in Houston and Texas

Texas public health officials say every region of the state, including Montgomery and Harris counties, is seeing intense flu activity this season, which could result, as in past years, in at least several hundred deaths.

In Harris County, hospital emergency room visits for flu-like symptoms are at a five-year high.

Christine Mann, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services, said Thursday her agency is aware of suspected flu cases that Montgomery County public health officials are investigating. She said the county is sending specimens to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for more extensive testing and confirmation.

"We'll wait and see what they find," Mann said, adding that the H1N1 virus, formerly known as swine flu, is the predominant strain this season, which started in September and typically runs until spring.

On Thursday, Montgomery County officials confirmed their second case of H1N1 virus. The unidentified patient is being treated at an area hospital, spokeswoman Jennifer Nichols-Contella said in a written statement. Tests are to be performed on six other cases, including the deaths of four people who suffered flu-like symptoms.

"The Montgomery County Public Health District is coordinating with regional and state resources to manage the case investigations," Nichols-Contella said.

Meanwhile, Mann stressed that the state is in the middle of flu season. So it's typical, she noted, for hospitals and doctors this time of year to see many cases.

"We don't even think we're at the peak," she said. "It's not unexpected."

Mann said there's no way to know how many people have died because flu cases are not required to be reported unless they involve children. No children have died so far this flu season in Texas.

Deaths every year

The Centers for Disease Control estimates between 3,300 and 49,000 people nationwide die every year as a result of the flu. Mann said state officials estimate Texans would make up between 8 percent and 10 percent of that total.

"We do expect there to be deaths every year from the flu," she said. "How many? We don't know."

Her agency's most recent flu data shows that an increasing number of people are going to hospitals and doctors with flu-like symptoms. Of the nearly 1,700 specimens tested, about 320 were positive for flu. Almost all the positive specimens were confirmed as H1N1.

Houston and Harris County officials and doctors agreed the area is in the middle of an intense flu season, with more than 200 cases confirmed at one Houston hospital, and more expected to be reported. Rita Obey, spokeswoman for Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, said the hospitals in her agency's jurisdiction are reporting many flu cases, but nothing out of the ordinary.

"We're in the heart of flu season," she said. "There is nothing unusual about this."

Increase in ER visits

The most recent data for Houston and Harris County shows high flu activity, with the number of positive tests performed by Houston's Bureau of Laboratory Services increasing. Of the 33 tests performed last week, 14 were positive for flu. Almost all were confirmed as influenza A, of which H1N1 is a subtype.

So far, the bureau has tested 264 specimens. Of the 89 positive results, the H1N1 virus accounted for 78 cases.

Visits this month to hospital emergency rooms for flu-like symptoms also were the highest reported in at least five years, according to the data.

Since Dec. 1, the Houston Methodist Hospital System has confirmed 225 flu cases, with about 90 percent of them found to be the H1N1 virus, said infectious disease specialist Dr. Richard Harris. At least one patient, who also suffered other medical problems, died, Harris said. He wouldn't reveal more details, citing patient confidentiality.

"We're in the middle of an epidemic here in Houston," Harris said. "This is the tip of the iceberg."

He said this season's vaccine is 60 percent effective in preventing the flu.

"You might still get the flu, but it will be a much more mild case," Harris said. "It's not too late to get vaccinated."

Not an epidemic

Dr. Luis Ostrosky, an infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann Hospital, said he also is seeing more flu cases, but wouldn't describe the situation as an epidemic. Twenty patients have been hospitalized with the flu since the beginning of the month. Ostrosky, who also is a professor at the UT Health Science Center, wouldn't say whether anyone has died.

Ostrosky said he thinks more people might be coming down with the flu this year because they didn't get vaccinated against it. He said the past couple of flu seasons were relatively mild and suspects many people probably became complacent about protecting themselves.

Jenn Blackmer Jacome, spokeswoman at Texas Children's Hospital, said many patients were being treated for flu-like symptoms. Six flu cases have been confirmed, she said.