Sacramento County's chief public health officer is recommending a state of emergency be declared in response to the accelerating spread of the H1N1 flu virus, which has killed at least 15 people in the county since April.

"We are facing what could become – it is not yet, but could become – a crisis if we do not act quickly," said Health Officer Dr. Glennah Trochet.

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is expected to consider the request today, amid concern over the slow arrival of the 50,000 doses of vaccine the county hopes to administer this winter.

In reality, though, the declaration is an administrative step.

The declaration would give public health officials, first responders and hospitals greater flexibility in tackling the spread of the virus. For example, it would allow hospitals to put in play measures it has prepared for public health threats – such as increasing the number of beds in hospital emergency departments.

"If you see a train coming toward you, you want to slow it down," Trochet said of her request for an emergency declaration. "It doesn't mean we are in a state of disaster."

A state of emergency would also provide Sacramento County access to federal, state and other local resources, such as mutual aid among agencies. It also would allow the county to shift resources where they are crucially needed.

The declaration would grant the county health department the authority to shut down schools, if necessary. Trochet said there are no immediate plans to do that, although the declaration would allow her to open protocol discussions with school officials should the virus spread.

"Over the past two weeks we have seen an increase in hospitalized patients from H1N1," Trochet said.

Two weeks ago, 36 people were hospitalized in Sacramento County because of the virus. Last week, there were 51 cases, she said. She expects more cases to come as the novel strain of influenza intermingles with the seasonal flu.

"Today our message is vigilance," said Chief Richard Martinez, the county emergency operations coordinator. The purpose of the declaration, he said, "is not one to alarm, but to alert."

Increased concern over the spread of the flu comes on heels of the latest H1N1-related death in Sacramento County – the 15th since last April, when the virus first appeared in the region. County officials could not provide specific details on the latest fatality.

During a typical year, two or three people die of the flu in Sacramento County, according to Trochet. But she noted that the seasonal flu, which is said to kill 36,000 every year in the United States, isn't given the scrutiny now being given to the H1N1 virus.

Across California, at least 249 deaths have been linked to the virus. At least 4,047 people statewide have required hospitalization since last spring, according to the California Department of Public Health.

The new strain of influenza has confounded researchers because it seems to more commonly afflict younger populations. While there have been numerous deaths, "most (people) recover uneventfully," Trochet said.

Health officials again urged the public to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, such as frequent hand washing and covering up when coughing or sneezing.

Meanwhile, Trochet said, she's concerned about the delay in shipment of thousands of doses of the H1N1 vaccine.

The county was expected to receive at least 50,000 doses, but has yet to receive that amount. The county has already used up the initial 10,000 doses of spray vaccine it received for children.

Supplies have trickled in, Trochet said, but the county could not say how many doses are in hand.

The county is slated to open its first H1N1 vaccine clinic on Nov. 16, at Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento, one of 42 clinics planned during the flu season.

Call The Bee's Bobby Caina Calvan, (916) 321-1067.