It killed nearly 20,000 people worldwide; now it seems to have fallen off the radar
MARQUETTE -- It's hard to believe that only a year ago, people were scrambling for vaccines, applying hand sanitizer, and wearing masks to protect themselves from the Swine Flu virus. Now, it's hardly spoken of.
"I think people are 'flu-ed' out. There was a big push last year and reasonably so. At some point in time, we tend to get fatigued about it," says Dr. Kevin Piggott of the Marquette County Health Department.
"I think that people were so overwhelmed with H1N1 and what went on with that, that maybe they're thinking they don't have anything to be concerned about" says Corrine Brownell, also of the Marquette County Health Department.
This is a dangerous mind set.
Dr. Piggott says we have built some immunity to H1N1 because of last year's exposures and vaccines, but we shouldn't let our guard down just yet.
"In Michigan, the state lab has already identified people with H3 and H1N1 positive results, so we know it's out there. It's just a question of what degree this January, February, and March," Dr. Piggott says.
Dr. Piggott warns that the immunity the vaccine provides fades over time, so even if you got a flu shot last season, you should get another one. What's more, the regular flu season hasn't even started yet, so you still have time to protect yourself.
"We never know the effects until we see the outcome, and I think because we're not seeing a very strong negative outcome. People aren't responding and getting the flu vaccine, but they need to do that because you never know when it's going to hit," Brownell says.
The one positive impact of last year's swine flu outbreak? It has caused flu shots to be more readily available.
Pharmacists are now trained to give flu shots, making it easier for you to get one.
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