FAIRMONT - As the year winds down, so does one of its most prominent health issues - H1N1 infections.

Fairmont, like the rest of the country, saw a rapid rise in the novel virus in October, causing many days of missed school and work for those affected.

By November, however, cases in the area began dwindling to what is now a standstill.

Jane Kotewa, Fairmont Area school nurse, said there have been no reports of influenza-like illness in the schools in recent weeks, although she expects a resurgence in January or February, when seasonal flu typically peaks.

Fairmont Medical Center also has seen a decrease in the number of appointment requests for ILI.

"Early in the fall, we were averaging 50 patients (per day) with ILI in the clinic," said Jason Howland, communications coordinator at FMC. "Now it is maybe a handful a day."

Howland said it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how many area residents were infected by the outbreak during the year, as the hospital and clinic did not send samples out for verification of the virus strain, instead assuming all ILI were H1N1.

The same was true at the schools, were every absent student was considered to have an ILI unless reported otherwise.

Kotewa said the absentee rate at the schools is lower than average at this time, something she attributes to the H1N1 push for good hygiene practices.

Hand washing, coughing into sleeves, and staying home when feverish have curbed the spread of all communicable diseases.

"I think it has made a huge difference," she said.

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting a slowdown as well, with only 11 states reporting widespread H1N1 activity for the week ending Dec. 12, the last week of data available.

Minnesota reported local activity of the virus, including at two schools in the metro area, but nothing widespread.

To keep infection numbers low, FMC is offering H1N1 vaccinations to anyone who wants one. Since the government purchased the vaccine, all H1N1 vaccinations are free.

Howland said it is difficult to determine if the number of people receiving vaccines is up this year, as the seasonal flu shot was delayed in preference of the H1N1 vaccine. Both vaccines are now available; nearly 150 shots per day are currently being distributed at the clinic.