A Richmond man’s death is the latest in Virginia from swine flu, bringing total deaths in the state from the illness to 27. “It indicates that the H1N1 flu is still an issue,“ said Dr. Donald Stern, Richmond City Health District director. “That we have had a death, it does not indicate the virus is changing. It’s still primarily a mild to moderate form of disease. Some individuals, particularly those with underlying health conditions, are at risk. That is why we encourage them to get their vaccine,“ Stern said.

Swine flu appears to have been cut in half in Virginia. About 8 percent of people visiting emergency rooms across the state reported flulike illness, down from a high of 15 percent three weeks ago, according to the Virginia Department of Health. “It looks like we’ve gone over a hump,“ said Dr. Marsh Cuttino, an emergency-medicine specialist with HCA Virginia Health System, which operates six Richmond-area hospitals. “We’re back almost to our normal levels.“

Serbia’s health ministry on Wednesday proclaimed a swine flu epidemic, a declaration it hopes will help prevent a surge of the illness in the Balkan country.

5,000: people vaccinated against H1N1 last week by the Virginia Health Department in the Central Region, stretching from Hanover County to the North Carolina line
  36,260: people vaccinated for H1N1 this year by the Health Department in the Central Region
  50,000-80,000: people vaccinated for H1N1 this year by all providers in the Central Region

Swine-flu cases appear to be declining in central Virginia, though the supply of H1N1 vaccine still is lagging behind desired levels. School absenteeism is back to normal levels in the counties of Charles City, Goochland, Hanover and New Kent, a public-health spokesman said yesterday. Absenteeism is declining in Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield and Henrico, while hospital emergency rooms report fewer visits by people with flulike illnesses.

Milwaukee police have arrested a man accused of stealing a truck carrying 900 doses of swine flu vaccine.

Hundreds turned out yesterday in Chesterfield County for a flu-vaccine clinic, where 800 doses of H1N1 vaccine were administered.

The county’s three public schools are back in session today after a week’s closing because of concerns over the H1N1 flu, including the death of a 6-year-old student.

Local health districts are getting more H1N1 swine-flu vaccine, and the state Health Department expects to get an additional 6,000 treatment courses of liquid pediatric Tamiflu to make available to uninsured people. Describing the H1N1 flu as a “younger people’s flu,“ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Thomas Frieden said yesterday that flu was still widespread and plans are being made to distribute to states all 234,000 doses of liquid pediatric Tamiflu left in the federal emergency stockpiles.

Pediatrics practices are being swamped with caring for sick children, trying to get shipments of H1N1 vaccine to give to patients, and answering parent questions about when to worry if a child has sniffles or a cough. With H1N1 swine-flu vaccine supplies drying up last week, forcing cancellation of some school-based clinics, and a local girl dying from swine flu-related illness, the events seemed to push the panic button for many.

Getting an H1N1 flu shot probably won’t cost you anything if you are insured through major health plans. Insurers UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield all have agreed to cover fees charged by providers to give the shots. The federal government is providing the vaccine, needles, syringes, alcohol swabs and sharps-disposal containers at no cost, but providers can charge a fee for their time and overhead to give the shots.

After getting their cleaning products approved by the county health department, Amelia County school employees and contractors began disinfecting buses and schools.

Fear of the swine flu is no reason to be scared off of Halloween. Parents, children and neighbors can say “Boo!“ to the flu this Saturday if they use some simple hygiene measures, public health experts said. “People need to continue their activities and just be smart about it,“ said Virginia Commonwealth University’s Dr. Robin Foster.

The supply of H1N1 swine flu vaccine has been exhausted at both Henrico County Health Department clinics. The Health Department will announce when it receives additional H1N1 vaccine. Get more information at (804) 501-4651 (West clinic), (804) 652-3190 (East clinic) or http://www.co.henrico.va.us/departments/health

Extra computers are headed to health offices as part of Virginia’s response to swine flu after the company providing IT services to the state initially resisted supplying the gear because it was uncertain it would be paid. Northrop Grumman attributes the holdup to a misunderstanding. The Virginia Health Department blames confusion that, once cleared up, led to a better deal for the agency.