Flu season has reached Page

It's worse than it was a month ago, but on par with most Decembers.

Posted

If it seems like a large number of your family, friends and co-workers have had the flu lately, you’re right.

The flu season has peaked in Page for the last several weeks, said Lisa Martin, practice manager for Lake Powell Medical and Urgent Care.

Martin said the flu season started a little earlier this year than other years, but it’s not more severe than previous years.

“Our facilities have seen a large increase of patients with flu and bronchitis in December, but it’s about the usual amount as years past,” said Martin.

But outside of Page the flu season is larger than past years.

According to the latest reports by the Arizona Department of Health Service’s (ADHS) weekly confirmed flu cases, they amount of tested cases have more than quadrupled from last season.  In week from Dec. 17 to 23 Arizona experienced the highest level of widespread activity of the flu outbreak as defined by the Center for Disease Control.

Arizona is one of 17 lower southwestern states labeled as a globally high widespread activity warning. While the CDC monitors the amount of confirmed cases from this season and strains being spread, the overall numbers have been climbing at a record pace.  The confirmed cases have gone from 1,143 to 5,051 in a space of three weeks. These seasonal numbers have only touched base on the laboratory confirmed cases and give room for quadruple or more unconfirmed cases calling it Influenza Like Illnesses.

About 92 percent of the cases belong to the influenza A (H#) strain, about four percent belong to the H1N1 strain and the rest belong to the Influenza B/Yamagata strain.

With the Influenza A (H3) at the highest percentage (93%) the CDC and ADHS have been monitoring the numbers closely this season.

It is the A H3N2 strain from 2016-2017 season that is the dominant strain this season.  The current vaccine is expected to minimize symptoms, however, due to minimal shifts in the current A strains only half of the vaccination given will be effective.

People who are most at risk of becoming ill from influenza are under the age of 5, over the age of 64, people with low immune systems, people with respiratory problems, high obesity of BMI over 40, diabetic patients, and/or people with progressive or prolonged health problems.

Currently the statistics from the CDC and ADHS of tested confirmed cases are in the age range of 19 to 49 and over the age of 65 years old.

To keep the influenza virus at bay it’s recommended to get flu shot vaccine at the beginning of October when the peak season begins. There are different strengths of vaccine but each do the same job. For the 2017-2018 peak season popular medical advice is to avoid the nasal spray/mist. The spray contains a live form of the virus and with the potency of the A H3N2 strain circulating the spray may not be effective.

The CDC has a few recommendations to help reduced the spread of the flu germs. The easiest and most effective prevention measure is hand washing. Utilizing the 20-second hand washing rule and using antibacterial soap is the first step in combating the spread of the flu.

Many people are not aware of how much we touch our faces after touching objects like shopping carts or doors.  The virus enters our mucus membranes of the nose, eyes and mouth.

If you are ill with the flu, stay out of direct contact by covering your cough and sneeze. Again wash your hands or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.  Contact of 6 feet is the contagious barrier and the distance is recommended to keep from contaminating others. Difficult for parents of small children but early vaccination and hand washing should minimize contamination.

To prevent the spread of germs stay home from work if you work with the public daily. Get the rest your body needs to bounce back to health.

If the doctor or clinical provider has prescribed you antiviral treatment, medication, or advice, please listen to your health professional. Complications may arise if you are not able to minimize symptoms, possibly death. The flu is a virus that has already taken one life this season.

A person can be exposed up to 7 days before symptom occur and will remain contagious another 72 hours after symptoms start to subside. 

If you have symptoms that don’t seem to get better after a week please see a doctor. Complications may develop into bronchitis, ear infection, sinus infection or pneumonia.