Swine flu loosens grip on Washington, other states

ATLANTA — Washington is among 11 states where the swine flu outbreak is improving, according to the latest figures from federal health officials.

A report released Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Washington’s swine flu status as “regional,” one step lower than “widespread.” Only Wyoming and the District of Columbia are listed as “local,” the next step down from “regional.”

Widespread infections of swine flu — also known as the 2009 H1N1 flu — were reported in 32 states as of Nov. 21, down from 43 states the week before, the CDC said.

But the CDC also said there were 27 new lab-confirmed swine flu deaths in children under 18, bringing the total to about 200 children. That’s the largest one-week tally for children since the pandemic started.

Since it was first identified in April, swine flu has sickened an estimated 22 million Americans, hospitalized about 98,000 and killed 4,000. It has proved to be similar to seasonal flu but a bigger threat to children and young adults.

Influenzalike illnesses accounted for 4.3 percent of all visits to doctor’s offices during the week, down from nearly double that proportion in October, the Los Angeles Times reported. That is still well above the normal level, 2.3 percent, for this time of year.

The swine flu pandemic has so far hit in two waves in the United States: First in the spring, then a larger wave that started in the late summer.

In late October, Washington and 47 other states reported widespread flu activity. Increasingly, that appears to have been the peak of the second wave. Since then, fewer states have been reporting widespread cases, and the number of school closings due to swine flu has at times dropped to zero.

But there are still plenty of ill people, as many as during the worst days of many regular flu seasons. And CDC officials have said the signs of declining cases do not necessarily mean the worst is over.

“Nothing is typical about this year’s influenza. We may have weeks and months of a lot of disease ahead of us,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, who heads the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said recently.