Influenza is on the rise!  FLASS doctors and staff are reporting that Flu Cases are rising in numbers. And this is happening at an intense level throughout the United States.  Let’s look at some astonishing recent statistics on the flu in 2019-2020.

The flu is on the rise. It’s not too late to get your vaccination.

  • The Center for Disease Control reports the flu has hit 6 million people so far this year. They added that the flu has taken 55,000 people into hospitalization situations.
  • Last but not least, and there is no good way to say this, 2,900 people have died. While many of us have been enjoying the holidays. 5 new pediatric deaths occurred from flu in the week ending Dec. 28.
  • Pennsylvania is a long way from our home state of Florida, but if you have friends and relatives in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, beware. In those states, the flu is rampant and strong. “Pennsylvania has reported nine flu deaths. New Jersey, which does not report flu deaths among adults, has had one pediatric flu fatality.”
  • Florida has not totally escaped. The Florida Dept. of Health reported that “A total of three influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported so far this season, all were children who were not yet vaccinated for the 2019-20 season.”

Flu Cases and Influenza-like Illness Spreading Across U.S.

In short, reports are multiplying faster than we can relay them to you through the FLASS blog. “The amount of influenza-like illness doctors are seeing is now high in most states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and it’s still increasing…” For a comparison, check our previous blogs on influenza.

 

Influenza On the Rise:  But Fear Not

We do not report these statistics just to contribute to flu anxiety. We do not want to scare you, but to empower you against the flu. So we say, Fear Not if you Have Had Your Shot.  Through this blog, we send you tips about enduring and surviving the flu each season.  But the topmost tip from any health professional right now has to be:  Get your flu shot.  The vaccine is the best way to avoid getting a serious case of the flu.  So, we advise you to take your flu-shot because it is not too late to get protection. Even if you catch the flu, it won’t make you as sick as if you had not taken the shot.

 

Influenza-Like-Illness:  Also On the Rise

Influenza on the Rise: Protect Your Family With Flu Shots.

With influenza on the rise, stay home if you are sick. Don’t spread the illness.

It might surprise you to know that the level of influenza-like illness has been on the rise for 2 months. “The percentage of respiratory cases testing positive for flu is similar to what has been seen at the peak of recent seasons. A map of reported visits for flu-like symptoms shows a season that started relatively early and gathered strength quickly.”

  • During the last week of December, 2019, Nationwide 6.9% of patient visits that were reported as (ILINet) due to influenza-like illness (ILI).
  • The U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network is keeping a close eye on these outbreaks. FLASS wants you to understand this statistic is far above the expected national baseline of 2.4 percent of patient visits.
  • Experts believe that the increase is due to the fact that a lot of people neglected their healthcare routines and doctor’s visits during the holiday.
  • Now that the holidays are ended and the flu is on the rise, we hope to see more folks paying attention to their health. In Florida, we are not in as much flu trouble yet as some states. Still, we must be prepared and take healthy measures to avoid widespread attacks of it as it moves across our state.

FLASS Official Health Tips to Avoid the Flu

As we have previously done, we are now sending out our most serious tips to help you avoid catching the flu.

  1. Carry some wet-wipes to wipe down such public and touchable things as phones, tv controllers, door-handles, toys, airplane tray-tables, and shopping cart handles. Remember, the flu virus can live on hard surfaces for 24 hours.
  2. Be aware that people around you can spread the flu for a full day before they know they are sick. That’s right, a person can be contagious before they are “symptomatic.”
  3. We can not repeat this enough: Wash your hands often. And we mean often. And always wash before you eat.
  4. Cover your coughs with your arm or your shoulder, not your hands.
  5. If you get the flu, call your doctor right away for flu medications. Stay home. Don’t spread the virus.
  6. Get your flu shot, please.

If you want to discover more about Influenza this year, we invite you to visit the excellent online resources of the Center for Disease Control. 

Influenza on the Rise: Have You Heard about Victoria?

Know your flu facts. Cartoon viruses are cute but the real ones are not. Update Your Awareness!

One interesting fact about this year’s strain of influenza is that the influenza B/Victoria strain is causing the most sickness at this point in the season.  Usually, influenza A is more rampant.  The good news is that typically, influenza “A” leads is a more serious strain leading to sicker populations with more serious symptoms. And, before you ask, yes, “protection from B/Victoria was included in this year’s flu shot.”

Likewise, protection from our old enemy, the A(H1N1) strain of influenza, is also in the shot. A(H1N1) is this year’s second most common strain as we travel into 2020.

Influenza Treatment and Timing:  Terrific Take-Away

Remember, as soon as you feel the flu symptoms coming on, report to your doctor. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends antiviral treatment be initiated as soon as possible.” This is especially true for people with confirmed or suspected influenza who are at higher risk for complications.  And treatment with anti-viral medication should begin within 24-48 hours.

Now that the Influenza is on the rise, we hope you institute the above FLASS anti-flu health tips right away.  We might not be able to keep Florida flu-free–But we can keep it in the handful of states that still have the fewest outbreaks.