Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2010-02-09)
LEXINGTON, KY (WEKU) - State health officials see very little seasonal flu activity in the commonwealth. But, that's not to say the flu has disappeared. Public health Commissioner William Hacker says it looks as if the H1N1 or swine flu is mutating into a seasonal flu like bug.
"We know from previous pandemics that the new strain becomes the seasonal flu strain going forward so it appears as though H1N1 is now becoming the regular seasonal flu virus," said Hacker.
Hacker says cases of H1N1 have fallen off compared to the number reported in November and December. Still, he says Kentuckians should still receive the swine flu vaccine.
"Well I would recommend if you haven't had the flu vaccine to go ahead and get it there's plenty of vaccine now, the flu season doesn't end until late April, early May and then last year it actually went right through the summer months. We'll have to wait and see whether it continues to do the same during 2010 as it did in 2009," said Hacker.
Hacker stresses H1N1 has certainly not gone away.
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