Pat Dollard

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The Wall Street Journal: WASHINGTON — The number of outpatient visits for influenza-like illnesses declined in most parts of the U.S. last week, possibly signaling illnesses from the new H1N1 influenza strain may have peaked in the country.

Anne Schuchat, the interim deputy director for CDC’s science and public health program, said Tuesday states in New England along with New York and New Jersey are still seeing “elevated” levels of H1N1 influenza activity compared to the low levels of seasonal influenza typically seen in May.

But for all other regions of the country, Dr. Schuchat said the number of doctor visits for influenza-like illnesses fell below the national baseline, which suggests the return of the warmer weather is cutting down on the spread of the respiratory illness. But, she cautioned that the preliminary figures could change as states submit new data from this past Memorial Day weekend.

Meanwhile, Dr. Schuchat said officials are preparing for a “surge” of new influenza illnesses this autumn with the return of the seasonal influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere. She said the CDC and other world health officials are paying close attention to the start of the seasonal influenza season in the Southern Hemisphere and are looking at what happens to the H1N1 virus. On Friday the U.S. government announced it was spending $1 billion to start the process of making an H1N1 influenza vaccine, although there’s still been no decision on whether to move ahead with a widespread vaccination program.

One concern officials have is that the new virus could become stronger like the virus that caused the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, although so far the H1N1 virus hasn’t shown the same biologic traits as the 1918-1919 virus. The H1N1 virus could continue circulating with the viruses that typically cause seasonal influenza or could die out next season.

In recent weeks most influenza viruses circulating in the U.S. have been from H1N1, Dr. Schuchat said, and not the viruses that cause seasonal flu.

“The warm summer months may give us a respite,” she said in a briefing Tuesday.

The number of confirmed and likely H1N1 influenza cases totaled 6,764 in 48 states and Washington D.C., according to most recent CDC figures. So far 10 people have died. The figures undercount the actual number of H1N1 influenza cases as most people with mild symptoms aren’t being tested.

Earlier Tuesday, the World Health Organization said 46 countries have officially reported 12,954 cases of H1N1 influenza infection, including 92 deaths. The U.S. and Mexico have accounted for the bulk of H1N1 cases.