Las Vegas NowReported H1N1 Cases Drop by 50-Percent

Reported H1N1 Cases Drop by 50-Percent

Two more people in southern Nevada have died from the H1N1 virus. One had underlying health problems while the other did not.

But the number of people with the illness is actually down significantly, but that doesn't necessarily mean the outbreak is over.

Health experts say, as with most seasonal illnesses, you’re always going to have your ups and downs, meaning just because the numbers are down one week, that doesn't mean the following will be the same.

According to the health district, the number of confirmed cases has dropped by nearly 50-percent from last week compared to two weeks ago. The new numbers indicate the decrease from 623 cases in the first week of November to only 318 the second.

“You have to kind of think of it like the weather. Just because you have a few cold days doesn't mean it's the beginning of winter. It may warm up the following day,” said Brian Labus, senior epidemiologist with the Southern Nevada Health District.

Labus says the numbers are ever changing. He says the numbers will be unstable because of how closely they're now collecting data. “It's hard to say what that means. Is it the beginning of the end or just a one-week change? It's really difficult to say until we get a little further into the season,” he said.

Regardless of any trend, health officials still urge people to get vaccinated. “Over the long course of the season, that will have a major impact on our ability to stop the transmission of disease,” said Labus.

Because of the limited number of H1N1 vaccines, they are still only allowing the priority groups to get them. This weekend they have three different flu clinics at Mohave, Del Sol and Sierra Vista High Schools.