Officials: Next Wave of H1N1 On Its Way

Health officials say that despite fewer reports of swine flu cases and fatalities in recent weeks, another wave of H1N1 may be on the horizon for Maryland and the United States.

In a statement released Feb. 25, the World Health Organization announced that the pandemic has not waned.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concurs that a third wave may be making the rounds.

The disease first made its mark in Maryland last April, when six people from Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties were diagnosed with "probable" cases of swine flu. Before the month ended, five more individuals, two of whom were Montgomery County residents, received the same diagnosis.

Rockville High School was shut down on May 1 after a student was diagnosed with a probable case of swine flu.

In all, 43 people have died from swine flu in Maryland, while 1,060 have been hospitalized, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Web site.

According to statistics compiled by the CDC, roughly 57 million individuals were infected with the H1N1 virus between April and Jan. 16, resulting in approximately 257,000 hospitalizations and 11,690 deaths.

"It wouldn't be surprising to see another peak this year," said Marita Mike, health director at the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security. "When you look at flu outbreaks in the past, there were multiple peaks."

Since a vaccine became available in October, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services has administered more than 30,000 doses in the county with a population of almost one million people, said Mary Anderson, the department's public information officer.

Early vaccination clinics set up by the county drew long lines where most people were turned away.

Short lines, ample vaccine doses and timing are incentives for individuals to get vaccinated now, health officials say.

The county offers vaccinations for free, and appointments can be made online or by telephone.

"This is a great time to get vaccinated," said Anderson. "No one is going to have to wait in line, unlike October and November."