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| Flu activity widespread in state; local health officials also seeing cases here |
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1/18/2019
By Brianna Stephens
Advocate Staff writer
Public health officials encourage vaccinations and other precautions as widespread flu activity is being reported in Kentucky.
Widespread is the highest level of flu activity, which indicated increased flu cases or flu outbreaks in at least half of the commonwealth’s regions, according to a release from the Dept. for Public Health, within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Kentucky has seen around 1,457 lab confirmed cases of the flu, the release said, comparable to the number of cases seen this time last season, 1,411.
Montgomery County Health Dept. Nurse Supervisor Kelly Allen told the Board of Health during its January meeting that the county saw 45 positive rapid flu tests in a single week recently.
Laboratory confirmed cases of influenza are defined by molecular virus testing and positive virus culture tests, according to the Dept. for Public Health. Rapid positive influenza tests are not included in official reports, but are used as an indicator of flu-like illness circulating across the state. Most clinics and medical facilities use this method.
Nurses for Montgomery County Schools are also reporting flu cases, Allen said.
The Type A strain of the illness has been predominantly seen in most rapid flu cases done locally, however, providers are also seeing several cases of type B, she added.
While the type A strain was considered to be a more severe illness at one time, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention concluded both A and B are capable of causing severe illnesses.
Both strains can cause typical flu symptoms, according to the CDC, including fever, feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea, although it is more common in children than adults.
Lori Wells, an APRN at Family Care Clinic in Mt. Sterling, said she has seen scattered flu cases this season compared to the 20 weekly cases she saw last season.
While she has seen cases appear later this season, Wells said she expects to see cases decrease around April, when the season typically starts to wind down.
In an effort to prevent the flu, Wells strongly recommends one precaution.
“I always recommend people get their flu shot,” Wells said.
She added she gets the vaccine each year and has been able to avoid the illness.
Although there could be a case of someone who is vaccinated getting the flu, Wells said it is better to take the precaution.
The Dept. for Public Health reported adequate supplies of flu vaccines have been made available for this season, and can be given at any time to anyone 6 months old or older.
The vaccine is available at the Montgomery County Health Dept. and area health care providers, Jeffrey Liles, spokesperson for the health dept., said. For more information, contact the dept. at 498-3808.
If someone were to develop the virus, Tamiflu can be used to provide relief, Wells said, or a new one-dose medication, Xoflux, is now also available for patients.
Because the flu is spread through person to person contact and through the air, Wells also stresses the importance of handwashing, covering a cough and staying away from those who already have the flu to avoid the illness.
KentuckyOne Health, which includes St. Joseph Mt. Sterling, issued a temporary hospital visitation policy for the 2018-2019 flu season.
“If you are ill or experiencing flu-like symptoms, please do not visit a patient until you are symptom free. Similarly, please do not visit a patient who has flu-like symptoms until they are symptom free,” the policy states.
Nursery and NICU visitation is also restricted to parents only.
Children under the age of 18, and are symptom free, who are visiting a newborn sibling may visit the maternity unit. However, this visitation is restricted to the maternity patient rooms only, the policy added.
For more information about the policy, visit kentuckyonehealth.org.
The CDC recommends the following steps to prevent the flu:
Get vaccinated.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza virus that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. There are also flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flu.
Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), are spread by cough, sneezing or unclean hands.
Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
Practice other good health habits.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
For more information about the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.
Weekly influenza activity can be found online at https://healthalerts.ky.gov/Pages/FluActivity.aspx. The information is updated each Friday at noon.
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