Influenza cases spike

to ‘widespread’ status
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

The latest weekly flu report shows a jump in cases and now is considered “widespread.”

The N.C. Division of Health and Human Services issued a press release saying the flu is widespread across North Carolina, and that North Carolinians should take actions to prevent infection.

“It isn’t too late to be vaccinated,” said Appalachian District Health Department director Danny Staley said.

“The health department and many other health care providers still have vaccine available. There are other vital actions you can take to limit the spread of flu infection. Wash your hands. Cover your coughs and sneezes, and if you are sick, stay home.”

In the latest report, for the week ending Feb. 2, participating health-care providers reported 4.87 percent of patients seen had influenza-like illness, which is considered having a temperature of 100 degrees or greater and cough or sore throat.

It’s higher than the peak for last year’s flu season and the baseline for an epidemic is 2.2 percent.

Last year the peak came in late December, with 3 percent of the patients reporting influenza-like illness, so this year’s flu is emerging a little later in the season than usual.

The 4.87 percent figure for this year is higher than the peaks for the four previous seasons. It’s the biggest percentage since the record-high 7.7 percent recorded during mid-December 2003.

Appalachian State University is also experiencing a flu outbreak that has crowded its on-campus clinic. ASU’s director of Student Health Services Pat Geiger sent an e-mail to university officials stating no one has been turned away, despite some complaints that students had been sent off campus for care.

Geiger said that doesn’t happen. “However, the wait times have been much longer than usual due to the number of acutely ill students,” she said.

“We have added staff to every shift, including the weekend shifts. It definitely appears to be an emerging strain of influenza, because too many people are getting it despite having had the shot.”

The student clinic had more than 1,000 students Monday through Wednesday last week, making it one of the busiest weeks for the clinic since the last major flu epidemic in 2003.

Those who have not received a flu vaccination this season are encouraged to get their flu vaccine. Those with flu-like symptoms are urged to contact their health-care providers and take precautions to avoid spreading it to others.

Appalachian District Health Department in Watauga County offers flu vaccine during clinic hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Flu shots at the health department are $32. Many private practices and drug stores also offer the shots.