H1N1 cases in Delaware increase, but none are at UD

H1N1 cases are on the rise in Delaware, but none are at the university, state health officials said Thursday.

During the week of Sept. 20, 48 new cases of the illness, commonly referred to as swine flu, were confirmed in the state, Karyl Rattay, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health, said during telephone conference with reporters. None of the cases are considered severe.

The new numbers change the state’s assessment of H1N1 from “sporadic” to “widespread.” During the week of Sept. 6, 14 cases were reported.

The first doses of the H1N1 vaccine will be delivered to the state next week, Rattay said, although the first round of doses will be given almost exclusively to hospital workers and other health care professionals.

When the second shipment of doses, provided free by the federal government, arrive in the state the following week, officials will begin targeting pregnant women, infants and eventually other priority groups, including college students.

State officials are expecting to receive at least 400,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine by December.

Rattay said the vaccine will be available at public clinics and in public schools in November. It will also be available through the university’s Student Health Service, but Rattay did not know when the university will receive the vaccine.

Seasonal flu vaccines, which do not protect against H1N1, are available now at Student Health Service for $13.

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