LEWIS COUNTY, N.Y. (WKTV) - Lewis County Public Health states that it has been actively monitoring absentee rates in all the local school districts and rates of flu-like illness being seen in doctors' offices and the local emergency room.

Carol Paluck, RN, Interim Director, has reported "widespread cases of flu-like illness throughout the county."

All the local school districts are reporting greater than normal absenteeism, most of which is due to flu-like illness. It is very likely that much of this activity is related to the H1N1 flu virus.

Lewis County Public Health said that since novel H1N1 flu is known to be widespread in New York State, confirmatory testing for novel H1N1 flu is now being done by the New York State Health Department on a case by case basis to track the severity of the virus.

Lewis County Public Health has received a limited number of doses of H1N1 vaccination over the last two weeks. Orders for additional vaccine have been placed by Lewis County General Hospital, Public Health and local medical providers. Public Health says it anticipates that eventually there will be enough vaccine for all of those individuals at greatest risk of complications from H1N1. The vaccine is expected to arrive in small amounts over regularly scheduled intervals.

Lewis County Public Health has scheduled H1N1 vaccination clinics for the following Lewis County individuals:
*pregnant women
*persons who live with or provide care for infants less than 6 months of age (parents, siblings, and day care providers)
*children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years old
*adults ages 25 to 64 years old with specific risk factors, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, immunosupression, etc
*health Care personnel and EMS who provide direct patient care

The following community clinic schedule may be subject to change due to vaccine availability. Health officials ask for patience as they attempt to vaccinate those at highest risk first in the event of vaccine shortage. It may become necessary to further screen and offer vaccination to a reduced population of at risk individuals if vaccine does not arrive as anticipated. The vaccine is being offered free of charge.

Wednesday, November 4; 5- 7 pm; Beaver River Central School
Monday, November 9; 5 - 7 pm; Harrisville Central School cafeteria
Thursday, November 12; 5 - 7 pm; Lowville Academy cafeteria
Monday, November 16; 5 - 7 pm; South Lewis High School cafeteria
Monday, November 23; 5 - 7 pm; Copenhagen Central School Cafeteria

Lewis County Public Health will be receiving both nasal spray and injectable forms of the vaccine and will be administering the vaccine to people according to the manufacturers recommendations. We encourage residents who are eligible to receive the nasal spray form to do so as to reserve the injectable form for those at risk residents who cannot have the nasal spray. The nasal spray can only be used in healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 49.