H1N1, seasonal flu on the decline--for now

The swine flu appears to have peaked in the U.S., but the pandemic and other forms of flu can hit several peaks in a season, U.S. health officials said.

The number of states reporting widespread flu activity has dropped to 43, down from 48 two weeks ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The United Kingdom and much of Western Europe has also reported peaks of influenza, though officials with the World health Organization say flu rates are still on the rise in Eastern Europe and Asia. Though the U.S. is beginning to see some declines, “there is still a lot of influenza around,” said Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Experts pointed to other pandemic flu seasons as evidence of the potential for more than one yearly peak. Though influenza crested once in the fall of 1957, that pandemic strain returned with a vengeance in January of 1958, they said.