FLU WAVE HITS AREA FACILITIES ERS, CLINICS SEEING PATIENTS.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The mighty wave of flu and respiratory illness that has spread nationwide at a faster, earlier rate than expected continues to cause a flood of patients in area emergency departments with many coughing, feverish children and their worried parents.

Santa Clarita's Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is seeing a 28 percent increase in patients seeking care since Dec. 5, compared with the same time last year, hospital officials said.

In a typical weekend, 100 people visit the emergency department, but the hospital continues to break records with 50 percent increases. Average wait times range from two to five hours.

``Half of those patients are children,'' said Newhall Memorial spokeswoman Andie Bogdan.

The bulk of the patients are children with respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis, pneumonia and strep throat, said Dr. Mark Wallerstein, director of emergency room services at Newhall Memorial. Though influenza has been present, it's not as prevalent as in other regions.

``We're seeing a lot of everything,'' he said.

While some county hospitals are asking parents to stay away from emergency rooms unless they are sure their child's illness is serious, Wallerstein said he would prefer parents bring children in rather than take a risk.

``It's a mixed message,'' he said. ``They always say don't go to the emergency room, don't get it plugged up. We're kind of the last safety net for the whole world. For how plugged up and how crazy it is here, I want our community to know if they can't see a doctor, we're here for them. They will be seen.''

The hospital still has 48 doses of flu vaccine left, reserved for a flu clinic for seniors 65 years and older, a group most at risk. The hospital also is collecting information from other health care providers to help inform the public about who has any remaining vaccines.

Physicians at Valencia Pediatric Associates reported 1,000 flu cases since Thanksgiving. Just a few of those children were hospitalized, said Dr. Albert Melaragno, a pediatrician with the association.

``This is far and away the worst flu epidemic,'' Melaragno said, but cautioned against panic. `It is a terrible season and it is a terrible disease, but there doesn't seem to be the devastating impact that we would expect.''

Melaragno said he has seen very few patients who received the vaccine become ill with the flu.

``The vaccine seems to be protecting them,'' he said. ``I think for the future, all children 6 months and older should have the vaccine.''

At First Care Walk-In Medical Group in Saugus, the clinic is seeing 107 patients a day compared with 90 people for the same time last year, officials there said.

``These are people that may not have the flu, but they are very sick,'' said First Care administrator Ann Dailey. ``People are definitely getting sicker this year. We're seeing a lot of sick kids with high fever. We tell parents if your child has an unexplained fever, follow your instincts and bring them in.''

Local physicians say the flood of patients is due in part to the continued news about deaths among young children because of the flu as well as the shortage of vaccine. An early concern among health experts was that this year's vaccine was weaker than one strain of the flu, but the public was urged to get flu shots anyway.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced earlier this week that California health departments will receive almost 14,000 extra doses, mostly reserved for those who remain at high risk, such as those age 50 and older, adults and children with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma, diabetes and other health problems, and women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season.

According to the CDC, the current flu outbreak is the worst for young U.S. children in years. Health experts have said that flu deaths among babies and toddlers will exceed the estimated 92 who die in an average flu year.

Even so, flu deaths among children are rare. An average of 8,400 normally healthy children from 6 months to 24 months are hospitalized with the flu each year. The virus and its complications are the sixth-leading killer of children 4 and under.

Los Angeles County has yet to see a significant number of flu deaths among children, said Dr. David Dassey with the Acute Communicative Disease Control Unit for the county's Health Services Department.

But it's the first time in a while that the public is taking influenza seriously, he said.

``We gave out 10 percent more flu shots this year,'' Dassey said. ``This is a tremendous success story for public health.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

FLU CLINIC

Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, 23845 McBean Parkway, will hold a flu clinic from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday for those 65 years and older. Reservations are required and can be made by calling [phone].

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FLU CLINIC (see text)