Flu hits hard, fast this season
Cases are widespread, hospitals ‘swamped’
The flu bug is hitting the region earlier than usual and harder than usual, according to recent reports.
“It is undoubtedly, absolutely, definitely here,” Betsy Walls, director of Personal Health Services for Chester County, said Friday.
“The ERs are getting swamped by it,” she said of hospital emergency rooms.
“It’s everywhere. Where you work -- it’s in the homes of families you know,” she said.
In Montgomery County, Communications Director Frank Custer said “we’re definitely seeing an increase over last year.”
Montgomery County has seen 420 reported cases of the flu “so far, and we still have a few months to go,” said Custer.
Of those, 69 have had to be hospitalized and of those hospitalized, 53 were over the
age of 50, he said.
According to National Center for Disease Control and Prevention flu data on the Mid-Atlantic states through Dec. 29, the predominant strain so far this season is H3N2. It is covered by the vaccine, but it’s known for causing serious illnesses.
The data also shows that nationally, like last year’s cases, confirmed f lu cases are hitting those over age 65 the hardest.
Custer noted that while the numbers are high earlier this year, they compare favorably to the 2009-2010 season when the H1N1 strain ran rampant through the country. “That year, we had 1,600 hospitalizations in just one season,” he said.
Colleen Mummert, a medical assistant at John Anderson’s medical practice on North Charlotte Street in Pottstown, estimated the office is already seeing a 20 percent increase over flu complaints made last year at this point in the season.
“We’re running out of places to put them,” Mummert joked. “There’s a lot of sick people.”
In addition to more cases, Mummert said her patients have been reporting that symptoms are lasting longer and are more severe than previous years.
She said a week-long illness is not unusual with this particular strain.
This tough illness has already sickened roughly 3,000 people in Pennsylvania and the flu is already considered “widespread” in 31 states, including Pennsylvania.
The CDC data also shows, however, that the season may already be peaking, which Custer mentioned as a possibility as well.
Walls, on the other hand, said she would like to see a few more weeks of data before agreeing with that conclusion.
She noted those numbers are generated primarily by those cases in which samples are tested in commercial labs or emergency rooms.
“There are lots of sick people out there who are not going to the doctor or to emergency rooms,” she said, noting that most flu patients in emergency rooms often have other serious medical condi- tions that become more complicated when a flu infection occurs.
Although children are often the biggest carriers, “because they are in each other’s faces,” Walls said there are so far no reports of an increase in absences in Chester County schools.
She said that may be due to a concerted effort this year to bring flu shots into the schools to make it easier for students and staff to get protection.
Montgomery County undertook a similar effort and John Armato, community relations director for Pottstown schools, said all buildings showed attendance rates between 90 to 96 percent for the past two weeks.
Getting the vaccination remains the best protection, said both Custer and Walls.
“Ninety-one percent of the viruses analyzed are in the vaccine,” Custer said.
Free vaccinations can be had on a walk-in basis Mondays from 9 to 3 p.m. at Montgomery County’s Pottstown Health Center, 364 King St.
On Wednesdays, vaccinations for children under 19 can be provided by appointment by calling 610-970-5040.
They are also available at the Norristown Health Center, 1430 DeKalb St. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for all ages on a walkin basis from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Mondays by appointment for children under 19. Call 610-2785145 to make an appointment.
In Chester County, high-dose vaccine for those 55 and older, regular dose and nasal mist are available at the walk-in clinic at 601 Westtown Road in the Government Center in West Chester.
The cost is $25 for the vaccine and $35 for the high dose, said Walls.
Hours are Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“I know lots of years people wait to get the vaccine, but this is the year to get it,” Walls said.
She pointed out that people are often contagious for 24 hours before they begin to feel symptoms, which include sudden fever, headache, chills and cough.
“By the time you feel crappy, it’s too late,” she said.
Those who are ill are advised to stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the disease to others. Follow Evan Brandt on Twitter @PottstownNews