Updated at: 11/19/2009 4:30 PM | KSAX.com
By: Megan Matthews
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Public Health: Despite 5 New Deaths, Minn. H1N1 Cases Declining 

DOUGLAS COUNTY, MINN. - The number of H1N1 deaths is up to 26 in Minnesota, but the virus seems to be on the declince, according to Douglas County Public Health.

"For the last couple weeks we've had virtually no reports from schools, the technical college or businesses," Director Sandy Tubbs said.

The H1N1 pandemic may be on the decline, but Tubbs says it's not over.

"We would still expect that we would possibly see another wave that would occur late winter maybe spring, it's hard to say," Tubbs said.

This is the second wave of H1N1.  The first wave was last spring, and Tubbs says this is how pandemics work.

"You have a little mini wave, a larger wave and potentially a much bigger wave," Tubbs said.

The second wave may be over but trends show a third is probably on its way.

"We definitely continue to strongly encourage people to get the H1N1 vaccine as well as the seasonal flu vaccine," Tubbs said.

Vaccinations could prevent another wave from happening, and they're safe for everyone even if they had H1N1.

"We're very hopeful that we'll actually be able to fend off another wave," Tubbs said.

New next year, the seasonal flu vaccine will include the H1N1 strain, which means only one shot.

"The 2010 seasonal flu vaccine that contains three strains; one of those strains will be the H1N1 strain, so next year when you get your seasonal flu shot you're going to get a booster of that H1N1 vaccine," Tubbs explained.

This will better prepare everyone for another outbreak.

Written for the web by Megan Matthews

megan@ksax.com