Va. officials think reported illness has plateaued

RICHMOND — Virginia health officials say the percentage of visits to emergency departments and urgent-care centers for influenza-related illness has plateaued and mirrors what’s going on in the rest of the country.

State health commissioner Dr. Karen Remley said on Thursday that patients reporting swine flu-related symptoms make up about 14 percent of emergency-room and urgent-care medical visits. Twelve people have died statewide from influenza-related problems.

Meantime, a vaccine shortage continues. Remley said 598,000 doses have been received or are on the way to the state. School-age children are being targeted for immunization in more than 300 clinics in private and public schools, but several clinics have had to be postponed because of the lack of vaccine.

Health officials are continuing to stress that healthy people allow children, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions first crack at vaccines when they become available.