LAWRENCEVILLE - This flu season, it's important to take measures
to prevent the spread of the virus, public health officials
said. The H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu, is
circulating in the community, said Vernon Goins, spokesman for
the East Metro Health District, which includes Gwinnett. As of
Monday, there have been 31 confirmed cases in the county. The
seasonal flu season typically runs from October to March, but
some seasons start or end earlier, said Tom Skinner, spokesman
for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
"Flu is unpredictable, and each flu season is unique," Skinner
said. "We have to expect for the worst - and prepare for it -
but hope for the best." Novel H1N1 is the predominant strain of
flu circulating right now, but health officials are no longer
testing every person who has flu-like symptoms, Skinner said.
When the strain first appeared in April and May, it was
important to test for it to get a good sense of what it was.
Testing has continued so the strain