On March 26th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the H1N1 status on its website by informing the public that in certain states, flu (including swine flu activity) was elevated last week in regions 4, 7 and 9 - particularly region 4. 

Anne  Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease was cited as saying that the state of Georgia was showing some indication of a worrisome trend of persistent flu in the southeast, or Region 4. 

Region 4 is comprised of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Georgia is one of the five states that initially suffered H1N1 outbreaks after the virus spread to the United States from Mexico. 

Nationwide, the influenza like illness ILI rate is relatively low. But in Georgia, the rate of diagnosis of flu was 15.2 percent.  Of 8 jurisdictions in Region 4, 3 reported regional or widespread flu activity. 

A health observer suggests that high rates of flu activities in Region 4 might be related to the fact that the black population rate in these states is higher.  Here’s the breakdown: Georgia 30%, South Carolina 28.5 % and Alabama 26.4%.  The national average was 12.8% in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Blacks are more likely to suffer vitamin D deficiency, which is critical to ensuring immunity against all types of flu viruses.  These deficiencies make them especially susceptible to the illness. 

In 2009 in Georgia, when the swine flu outbreak first hit the state, one physician advised his patients to maintain high levels of vitamin D by taking supplements.  Those patients did not acquire either type of influenza.  In comparison, another physician's patients who did not use vitamin D to maintain serum vitamin D levels got the flu at a rate of 10%. 

Regardless of flu activity, people should do their best to have enough vitamin D in the blood; in addition to boosting the immunity against the seasonal and swine flu viruses, the sunshine vitamin may help protect against a series of other serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. 

For more information on vitamin D, check out vitamindcouncil.org.

By David Liu and editing by Rachel Stockton