Statewide, 27 percent of the 357 patients sick enough to be admitted to hospitals so far this flu season are ages 9 or younger, according to new state data.

In the Central District Health Department, which serves Ada, Elmore, Valley and Boise counties, it's 22 percent of 107 hospitalizations.

"This flu is not following the rules of seasonal flu at all," said Dave Fotsch, health district spokesman.

"Traditionally, it is the elderly and the very young and those with compromised immune systems that comprise the largest percentage of infections. This is a young person's disease."

Here are the latest numbers on H1N1 flu from the state Department of Health and Welfare and from Central District Health, which serves Ada County.

DEATHS

Fifteen deaths had been confirmed statewide as of Nov. 11. That's five cases since Oct. 28. No one has died in Ada County. At least three people, all in their 50s, have died in Canyon County. At least two of the confirmed dead were teens who lived elsewhere in Idaho.

CONFIRMED CASES

A total of 768 cases of H1N1 have been confirmed statewide. In the Central District Health Department, 250 cases had been laboratory-confirmed as of Nov. 6.

Most H1N1 cases don't get confirmed in laboratories, because of the sheer number of victims and the fact that testing almost always turns up H1N1 anyway.

NUMBER OF VACCINES

Idaho has been allocated 243,600 doses. Central District Health has divvied up about 38,000 doses - 20,000 for free public clinics and school vaccination efforts and 18,000 to doctors, mainly family doctors, obstetricians and pediatricians. Those doctors say they have used nearly all of what they have received, Fotsch said.

VACCINE CLINICS

Starting Monday, the public clinic at the former Comp USA store near Boise Towne Square mall will be open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is set to be open every Monday through Dec. 21.

No more Saturday clinics are scheduled.

The clinics are for pregnant women; people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months; health care workers; people ages 6 months to 24 years old; and people 25 through 64 with chronic health conditions.

Colleen LaMay: 377-6448