Flu cases up this week, remain lower than last year
Wearing masks, social distancing and hand hygiene may be the protocol to halt the spread of COVID-19, but it has also affected the number of flu cases in Michigan and around the country.
A total of 18 patient visits due to influenza like illness (ILI) was reported out of 6,449 office visits in Michigan for the week ending Feb. 20. That is a 0.3 ILI activity rate for the state which is up from last week’s 0.1 percent.
A year ago on Feb. 22 it was at 3.8 percent when there were 409 patient visits out of 10,637 office visits.
Comparatively, the number nationally is 1.0 percent of outpatient visits which is down from 1.1 percent last week. It’s substantially lower than it was a year ago when it stood at 5.5 percent.
The Centers for Disease Control has reported since the beginning of the flu season in October that seasonal flu activity is lower than usual this year.
ILI is defined as a fever (higher than 100 degrees) and a cough and/or a sore throat without a known cause other than influenza. Nationally one pediatric death due to the flu has been confirmed for the 2020-2021 flu season. No pediatric deaths have been reported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. At this time last year 125 pediatric deaths due to the flu had been reported nationally with four confirmed by the MDHHS.
If you have flu symptoms and are at high risk of serious flu complications, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Your provider may decide to treat you with flu antiviral medications.
A flu shot is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older with rare exceptions.
Much like COVID-19, influenza viruses are spread when a person who has influenza coughs, sneezes, or speaks which releases viruses into the air where other people can inhale the viruses. When these viruses enter the nose, throat, or lungs of a person, they begin to multiply, causing disease. The viruses may also be spread when a person touches a surface with flu viruses on it and then touches their nose or mouth, according to the MDHHS.