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Though numbers are down from earlier in the year, the swine flu appears to be regaining momentum heading into flu season — and public health officials say they’re in a race to get vaccines out before an expected peak later this year.

Locally, the flu seems to be gaining ground.

A high school football game Friday in Davidson County was canceled after half the team got sick, and Guilford County Schools reported a sharp increase in the number of apparent cases.

Meredith Palmer, a spokeswoman for Davidson County schools, said the game between Central Davidson and North Davidson was called off after 16 Central players developed flu-like symptoms.

Overall, the Davidson school system hasn’t seen more absences this year, but officials are bracing for an increase in flu cases.

“There’s going to be more illness. We know that,” Palmer said. “It’s a unique flu season. People are just going to have to do the right thing in terms of prevention.”

The numbers of cases of the H1N1 virus have dropped from a peak early in the summer. That trend, however, has reversed itself in recent weeks, and health officials are concerned that the arrival of the traditional flu season this fall and winter could bring high numbers of cases.

While the spread of the disease is gathering speed, measures aimed at combatting it are strengthening.

Federal officials announced Friday that clinical trials indicate vaccinations will require one, not two doses.

That discovery doubles the amount of vaccine, which is expected to be available next month.

The question is whether that will be soon enough.

“It’s a bit of a race to get the vaccine out there ... ahead of the disease,” Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a press conference Friday.

Locally, Guilford County Schools reported a sharp increase in cases this week. In all, 189 students or employees were experiencing symptoms Friday, up from 121 earlier in the week, and 49 schools were affected, up from 40, said Jennifer Landes, a school spokeswoman.

Moses Cone Hospital also has seen a spike, spokesman Doug Allred said.

At the hospital and urgent care clinic, the number of patients with flu-like symptoms rose from 183 the week of Aug. 16 to 271 last week.

On Friday, Moses Cone Health System announced that employees would be required to receive seasonal flu vaccinations, a step that was only encouraged in the past.

While seasonal flu vaccinations are available now, it’s not clear when the H1N1 vaccinations will arrive in Guilford County, Allred said.

“We’re waiting like everybody else,” he said. “We don’t know.”

In the meantime, old-fashioned preventative measures are recommended.

Palmer said students with symptoms are urged to stay home, and if they show up sick at school, they will be sent home.

Personal hygiene measures are emphasized as well, she said.

“Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands,” she said. “You can’t say that enough.”

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com