BOISE - Reports of influenza-like illnesses are widespread throughout the state of Idaho.

The Department of Health and Welfares (IDHW) said that coincides with the national report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in which most states are reporting widespread activity.

As of November 3, Idaho has been allocated a total of 165,200 doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Initial shipments are being distributed directly to full-service hospitals, community health centers and local public health districts. Idaho's allotment is being distributed statewide on a population basis, with new shipments arriving weekly. People should check with their local Public Health District's website, or call their Health District for clinic information and site locations.

Health officials say supplies of the H1N1 vaccine continue to improve, and school clinics for children around the state are starting up again in some areas. They encourage parents to take advantage of the clinics.

Children 6 months through 9 years of age need a second dose of H1N1 vaccine four weeks after their first dose. Parents whose children received vaccinations in the earliest clinics held in the state are encouraged to begin making plans for their children to receive a second dose of vaccine.

Since September 1, the average age of lab-confirmed H1N1 infections in Idaho is 18. Only a small portion of people infected with influenza are tested and receive laboratory confirmation.

The Idaho Bureau of Laboratories is only testing people who are hospitalized or high-risk for flu complications, although private labs are submitting results for positive cases. Lab-confirmed reports are an indicator of flu activity, but portray only a fraction of total infections. Keeping that in mind, the overall number of laboratory-confirmed infections continues to increase, along with the number of people hospitalized for H1N1 infections.

78 additional lab-confirmed infections were reported in the last 7-day period. Since September 1, a total of 302 hospitalized cases of influenza have been reported.

H1N1 infections have contributed to the reported deaths of 11 Idahoans. Reports of additional deaths are under investigation to determine whether H1N1 is a factor.