Perry County flu fears: weakest affected the most
Chances are good that you or someone you know has been experiencing fatigue, a sore throat or aches and pains.
Nobody sick and chained to the bed; just not feeling well.
Welcome to the start of the flu season and, by some estimates, it could be a rough ride.
The flu is already affecting more people than usual, starting earlier and covering a broader geographical area. Government health experts say 18 children, under age 18, have died because of the seasonal flu and 2,257 people had been hospitalized with flu symptoms through the end of 2012.
"It's just the flu." Maybe. Maybe not.
For the fourth week in a row, the proportion of people seeing health care providers for flulike illness is above the national baseline, and jumped from 2.8% to 5.6% in that time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Last season's proportion peaked at 2.2%, the CDC reports.
Pam Logan of the Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin gives us an assessment of what the hospital is seeing:
From the Marshall Browning Medical Clinic (Dr. Tucker, Dr. Bigham, Felicia Kimbrough, Nurse Practitioner):
"We have had patients test positive for Influenza A and B. For patients who have no elevated temperature, we are encouraging them to stay home and treat their symptoms with over-the-counter pain medication, cough medication, and to push fluids. If they have a fever, we are instructing them to come to the office and to be screened for the flu. All patients suspected of having the flu are placed in a private exam room used only for screening of flu patients. All patients are provided masks and hand sanitizer upon entering the office. If they test positive for the flu, we treat them and their families. Children under the age of 10 and the elderly are at greater risk. If a patient needs to be hospitalized for symptoms, they are admitted."
And this, from the Marshall Browning Hospital Emergency Room:
"We have seen several positive cases of Influenza A and Influenza B in the ER. Treatment includes rest, fluids and Tamiflu if ordered by the physician."
On behalf of the hospital, Mrs. Logan adds:
Recommendations
"See your physician if you think you have the flu. Highest risk includes small children, older adults (65 and older), any comorbidities at any age including Diabetes, COPD, heart problems, compromised immune system. Get vaccinated, wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing, and WASH your hands frequently," she said.
Visitors to Marshall Browning Hospital
"Please help us protect our patients and the community. Visitors to hospitalized flu patients are asked to wear a mask and follow recommended isolation procedures. We ask that any visitors who are coughing or sneezing wear a mask. If the visitor refuses to wear a mask, they may be asked to leave and not allowed to visit the patient."
The REA clinic in Du Quoin and the Emergency Room staff at Pinckneyville Community Hospital mirror what others are seeing.
An emergency room nurse at Pinckneyville Community Hospital said the staff is seeing more flu and pneumonia cases this year than last year. "The weaker are affected more: the elderly and the young."
Du Quoin Elementary School Principal Peg Pursell said they have seen only a routine number of absences, but nothing to take note of. The same thing at the Du Quoin High School.
"My calls (about flu vaccinations) have increased dramatically," said Ellice Wickwire of the Perry County Health Department. "We have a limited amount of vaccine," she said. There is still some availability and more for qualified children entitled to free vaccine. "We have done several vaccinations today," she said.
The cost for an adult vaccination is $30, but she asks that you call ahead. "We can still bill Medicare," she said. The health department began holding community vaccination clinics in September and they have already been completed.
Brad Galli of the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Du Quoin said his staff is administering both flu and pneumonia vaccinations. "It has really picked up," he said. The pharmacy can bill Medicare and many of insurers for the vaccination.
Twenty-nine states plus New York City are now reporting high flulike activity, up from 16 states the week before, the CDC says. Forty-one states reported in the last week of December that flulike activity was widespread geographically, with that number up from 31 states the week before, according to the CDC.
During the last week of 2012, 7% of all deaths reported in 122 U.S. cities were due to pneumonia and the flu, according to the CDC.
That figure is just below the epidemic threshold of 7.1% for the last week of the year.
The medical industry is concerned because this is the earliest flu season the U.S. has seen in the past 10 to 12 years.
Flu season usually peaks in January and February, according to the Flu.gov website maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The predominant type of flu that is circulating is H3N2 Influenza A virus, which is making up 76% of the viruses reported, according to the CDC.
H3N2 flu seasons tend to be more severe.
For instance, in Minnesota, four people died.
In Indiana, seven deaths have been associated with influenza, two in people younger than 18.
It's not too late to get vaccinated, and the CDC encourages everyone who hasn't been to do so soon. Enough vaccine has been produced and distributed so that everyone who wants a shot should be able to get one.
The outbreak also is a good opportunity for the public to remember that hand-washing and use of sanitizing gels can reduce infection rates by 30%. It's an opportunity for us to reinforce those basic things your mom always told you.