Flu cases significantly higher this year
EL DORADO — To date, 28 influenza-related deaths have been reported in Arkansas this flu season, according to the Arkansas Department of Health website. Twenty of these deaths were among persons 65 and older and no pediatric death has been reported in Arkansas this flu season. The number of flu-related deaths in Arkansas this year is significantly higher than the numbers for the 2015-16 flu season in the state.
The numbers of cases of the flu locally are doubling – comparing February 2016 to February 2017 – said Lori Gadberry, RN, BSN, infection control director at Medical Center of South Arkansas in El Dorado. She said local patients are being diagnosed with both A and B strains of the flu this year.
Since Oct. 2, 2016, over 9,700 positive influenza antigen tests have been reported to the ADH online database by health care providers, according to the ADH website. Of the 75 counties in Arkansas, 72 counties reported influenza cases with the majority of reports from Craighead, Sebastian, Pulaski, Washington, Baxter, Johnson, Saline, Pope, Benton, Jefferson, Greene, Crawford, Poinsett and White counties.
During the flu season, the ADH produces a Weekly Influenza Report for clinicians. The report provides information on flu activity in the state. The report also compares influenza like illness (ILI) in Arkansas to activity in the U.S. ADH receives reports of only a fraction of flu cases. “Therefore, it is important to understand that the information in the weekly update is representative of the timing and location of activity, but it does not reflect the overall burden of disease. It is presumed that there are many more people are actually affected than the report shows.”
For the week ending Feb. 25, the average school absenteeism rate week was 7.3 percent among public schools, according to the ADH.
Junction City School District nurse Kaci Burton said that she’s seen five or six students with flulike symptoms that include runny nose, fever and coughing.
“We just call the parents to pick them up. They can’t come back until they’re released from the doctor,” Burton said.
Norphlet Elementary School nurse Traci Jeffers couldn’t confirm how many students she saw with flu-like symptoms, but she said, “It is going around pretty heavily. I do know that.”
Smackover Elementary School nurse Michelle Martisek said that she’s seen four or five students with flu-like symptoms like fever, sore throat and body aches. One student has a confirmed case of the flu.
Martisek said that once a student is diagnosed with the flu and prescribed Tami-Flu, the CDC recommends students should stay home for three to five days.
El Dorado School Based Health Center director Debbie McAdams said that nurses haven’t seen any students with flu symptoms, but plenty of students have come and said, “My stomach hurts. I don’t feel good.”
“We’re seeing more of the norovirus (or the) stomach flu, when you’re home
for 24 hours with diarrhea (and) throwing up,” McAdams said.
McAdams said that DNP Gianna Grant of Family Medical Clinic works with the El Dorado SBHC and also treats school-aged children at the clinic, where people have been seen for flu symptoms and the stomach virus.
Grant said that seven of the clinic’s patients tested positive for the flu, but not all of them were children during this flu season. Also a patient tested positive for strep throat and another for mononucleosis, often referred to as the “kissing disease.”
The ADH is now reporting “widespread” flu activity around the state to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinics in Arkansas are experiencing a high level of flu and flu-like illnesses in the state, which is consistent with the high level of flu being seen throughout the country. “Widespread” activity means that cases have been reported in all areas of the state.
“We have certainly seen an uptick in cases in the last few weeks,” said Dr. Dirk Haselow, state epidemiologist. “It is not too late to get your flu vaccine. The vaccine takes up to two weeks to begin working fully, so getting the vaccine sooner rather than later is recommended.”
Flu symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle or body aches, fatigue and a headache. Symptoms may also include vomiting and diarrhea in children. Influenza antiviral prescription drugs can be used to treat or prevent influenza if started soon after symptoms begin.
Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months old and older, with rare exceptions. People who are at a higher risk for complications from the flu are especially encouraged to get their flu shot. This includes: children age 2 years old and younger; adults age 65 years and older; pregnant women, or women up to two weeks after delivering a child; people with a suppressed immune system; people with chronic health problems, like asthma, diabetes, cancer and heart disease and residents of nursing homes or other chronic care facilities.
The flu shot is available in Local Health Units located in every county and many doctor’s offices. Pharmacies also have flu shots available but do not give flu shots to children younger than 7 years of age. The Union County Health Unit is located at 302 American Road in El Dorado and the telephone number is 870-863-3351.
A spokesperson for the Union County Health Unit said local residents who would like to get a flu vaccination are urged to call the health unit for an appointment.
Many local pharmacies and doctors’ offices still have flu shots available. A spokesperson for Melvin’s Discount Pharmacy said more cases of the flu have been reported in the last month. A spokesperson for the SAMA Pharmacy said they have no problem getting Tami-Flu for persons diagnosed with the virus, “but lots more prescriptions are being filled for the flu this year.”
A pharmacist at Walmart said people diagnosed with the virus started locally later this year – around the first of February. He said this year, a generic brand of Tami-Flu is being offered, so supplies of the medicine to alleviate flu symptoms are plentiful.