FLU CASES NOT ALARMING SO FAR.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

Los Angeles County health officials said Monday that they have mot seen evidence of a worse-than-average flu season locally, despite reports of severe outbreaks in other parts of the state and nation.

Officials said 644 cases of influenza had been reported in California through Nov. 29 - more people than are usually sick with the flu at this time of year. As of Monday, about 50 cases were reported in the county.

However, it's very difficult to predict or track influenza because it is not a reportable condition in Los Angeles County, said Dr. Laurene Mascola, chief of the acute communicable disease control program.

``It could be up to 10,000 or 20,000 people with influenza,'' Mascola said. ``But we only get reports from nursing homes, if a school had a high absentee rate or (if) a unique group of people called in. Individual cases are not reportable.

``In Los Angeles County, the epidemic hasn't hit here in any great numbers yet,'' she said, ``which is good because it means people can still get the vaccine, although people might have to call one or more places to find it.''

Los Angeles Unified School District campuses reported an increase in flulike cases Monday, suggesting a longer-than-normal flu season in the 750,000-student district.

Karen Maiorca, director of nursing services for the LAUSD, said 50 students at five separate campuses had high fevers and other flu symptoms Friday. Although Maiorca could not confirm whether any of the cases was actually the flu, she said all the symptoms were more severe than those of the common cold.

``I would guess it will increase. Once we know it is in Los Angeles County, we'll start to see more cases,'' she said. ``We know that it is hitting earlier this year. Last year, we didn't have any cases until March.''

Maiorca said the district could get help from the winter break, which starts in two weeks.

Los Angeles International Airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said large numbers of people are passing through LAX during the holiday season, bringing in travelers from areas where the flu is more prevalent.

``Being in a crowded airport is no different from being in a crowd at the shopping malls at this time of year,'' Castles said. ``So people should practice good hygiene and wash their hands frequently if they think they have been exposed to someone who may have had a cold or the flu.''

County health officials said they requested and received 43,000 extra doses of vaccine over the past few months.

However, the department's latest request for an additional 7,000 doses from the vaccine's manufacturer was turned down. Altogether, the county has received and provided 138,000 doses to the clinics scheduled annually.

For more information on how to get a flu shot, call county public health representatives at [phone], or visit the Web site at lapublichealth.org.

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com