We only have 2 hosptials in Elkhart County. The bigger one is Elkhart General and the other one is Goshen General.
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Last Updated: 10/6/2009 12:00:58 AM
ELKHART -- Despite occasional cases and one death attributed to swine flu, the virus hadn't fully hit Elkhart County yet, said a local hospital official.
At least that's what he thought until a week ago, when H1N1 flu cases jumped, by Dr. David VanRyn's estimates, 500 percent at Elkhart General Hospital's emergency department, where he is medical director.
"Doctors' offices are being inundated with people who think they're sick with the virus," he said.
VanRyn said a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Jimtown High School should help answer the public's questions about how the virus is transmitted, what to expect from it this fall and concerns about the vaccine.
"One of our big concerns is as the wave of these infections hits, as people inundate doctors' offices and emergency departments, the whole system would be bogged down," VanRyn said.
"The volume of people you would be talking about would shut down these offices" if everyone who suspects they have H1N1go to doctors' offices and emergency rooms to be checked, he said.
Statewide, the virus is responsible for four deaths. The virus has attacked younger patients than the seasonal flu vaccine traditionally does.
VanRyn attributes the sharp jump in H1N1 flu cases to the change in weather and people passing the virus to others.
Dan Nafziger, Elkhart County Health Officer and infectious disease physician at Goshen General Hospital, said anecdotally he's seen swine flu activity increase in the last two weeks.
"We do seem to have more influenza in the area than we've had earlier in the fall and certainly a lot more than we normally see at this time of the year for influenza," he said.
A group of Indianapolis health care workers were among the first to receive doses of the nasal mist swine flu vaccine Monday, the Associated Press reported. The mist is recommended for healthy people ages 2-49 who are not pregnant.
The injectible vaccine will be available in a few weeks and will be distributed first to targed groups: pregnant women, children, adolescents and young people ages 6 months to 24 and those who care for them, and older people who have chronic medical conditions.
Nafziger said he expects Elkhart County to have some doses of the nasal spray later this week.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON SWINE FLU WEDNESDAY
Where: Jimtown High School Auditorium, 59021 C.R. 3, Elkhart
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Who: Elkhart General Hospital, Elkhart County Health Department, Elkhart Emergency Physicians
Why: To inform Elkhart County residents what to expect from the H1N1 flu this fall, vaccine recommendations and how H1N1 is transmitted. The meeting will include a question and answer period.
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