VIRUS BUG SPREADS EASTWARD THROUGH SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

POPLAR BLUFF -- The winter virus bug, which up until now has been most active in the western part of Southeast Missouri, apparently is spreading eastward across the region, health officials said Wednesday. But they emphasized that the number of cases of sickness remains near average for late January.

The Missouri Department of Health said the greatest number of confirmed influenza cases in Missouri this winter continues to be in the St. Louis area.

Since mid-November, 64 flu cases have been confirmed in St. Louis city and 47 in St. Louis County. In Cape Girardeau County, four confirmed cases of influenza have been reported, with one case in Scott County.

Two of the four flu cases in Cape Girardeau County were attributed to the Type B virus. The other two were diagnosed as Type B Panama. The lone Scott County flu case was listed as a Type B.

Statewide, the total number of confirmed flu cases - as of Jan. 22 - was 151. That compares with 357 cases during the 1991-92 flu season of mid-November to April.

Of the total number of laboratory-confirmed flu cases in the state, 36 percent involved infants under 1. State health officials said that's because children under 1 are most susceptible since they are not normally immunized for the virus. Young children can generally withstand symptoms of the virus much better than those over 60.

Twenty-five percent of the flu cases reported this winter have occurred in children ages 1-4, 12 percent in children ages 5-9, and 10 percent in children ages 10-14. Six percent of the flu cases occurred in adults between the ages of 30-39, according to Missouri Department of Health statistics.

The department classifies the level of flu activity in the state right now as "regional." During the latest weekly reporting period that ended Jan. 22, regional influenza-like outbreaks have been reported in all parts of the state. In Southeast Missouri, schools in Texas and Ripley counties and St. Joseph's Catholic School in Scott City were closed last week because of influenza-like sickness.

"I don't know of any schools that are closed this week, but based on recent telephone calls we are starting to see an increase in sickness on the eastern side of the region, especially in Mississippi County," said Sue Tippen, director of the Missouri Department of Health's Southeast Missouri regional office. "I wouldn't be surprised to see some of those schools over there close during the next two to three weeks because of sickness."

A spokeswoman for the Charleston schools said attendance this week is about 87 percent compared to the normal 94 percent. "We've had some sickness, but so far not enough to close the schools," said the spokeswoman, Martha Moody. "It would have to drop to around 75 percent before we would consider closing school."

The Charleston school system has about 1,700 students.

Moody said there was a noticeable increase in absenteeism in the district early this week. "Last year it was our kindergarten that was hit hard, but this time it is affecting all of our elementary grades," she said.

During the last weekly reporting period, Tippen said there were 4,000 flu-like illnesses reported in the 25-county Southeast Missouri region. Most of them were in the western counties, but the number was increasing in the eastern counties, she said.

In Cape Girardeau County, health officials said the number of cases of gastrointestinal illness decreased from 68 for the week of Jan. 11 to 27 on Jan. 19 and 28 on Jan 25. The number of upper respiratory infection cases in the county also dropped from 108 on Jan. 11 to 46 on Jan. 19, but rose to 88 on Jan. 25. Of the 88 cases in the county, 29 occurred at one site and 75 percent involved children under 4.

The number of cases with flu-like symptoms, strep throat and bronchial infection changed slightly during the same period.

The number of influenza-like cases in Missouri this year is still well below that of the 1991-92 flu season, show the latest figures. Last winter the number of cases peaked in late November and December and declined sharply after the first of the year. This winter's pattern had been relatively flat until the second week of January.

Tippen said parents apparently are heeding warnings in the news media about giving aspirin to young children with high fever. "I have not received a single report in this part of the state of anyone diagnosed with Reye syndrome," she said.

Tippen said giving aspirin to children in their midteens and under with a high fever can result in Reye syndrome. Its symptoms are characterized by persistent vomiting, violent headaches and bizarre mental and physical behavior in children who appear to be recovering from a viral infection. It requires prompt diagnosis and admission to a hospital where emergency care can be administered.

Although a rare complication of common viral infections, Reye syndrome is considered life-threatening.