Public health officials have noted a recent increase in flu cases in Transylvania County, including several cases in long-term care facilities and two deaths from influenza this season.
Influenza is a serious respiratory illness that can cause mild to severe symptoms. Serious complications like pneumonia, bacterial infections, hospitalizations and death can happen at any age, but those at higher risk include older adults, young children, and people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high body mass index, and being pregnant.
The CDC has assessed the current flu season as moderate nationwide, based on reported illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. Flu-like illnesses have been increasing since mid-December and remain elevated across most of the country.
So far this season, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 12 million illnesses, 5.6 million medical visits, 160,000 hospitalizations, and 6,600 deaths from flu, including 27 deaths among children. In N.C., there have been 40 flu-related deaths so far this season, all among adults.
IF YOU GET SICK
Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. Symptoms can include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue (tiredness). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children.
Some flu symptoms are similar to a cold, but cold symptoms are usually milder than the symptoms of flu, and people with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.
Several tests are available to determine if someone is sick with flu. Your doctor may also diagnose you with flu based on symptoms.
Flu symptoms can last for a week or more. If you are sick with flu-like illness, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine except to get medical care or for other necessities.
If you get sick with flu, antiviral drugs can be used to treat your illness. These prescription medicines can make illness milder, shorten the time you are sick, and prevent serious flu complications. Antiviral drugs work best for treatment of flu when they are started within 48 hours of getting sick, but starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a high-risk health condition or has severe symptoms. If you are prescribed an antiviral, follow your doctor’s instructions for taking this medication.
FLU PREVENTION
Flu spreads from person to person through tiny droplets that are released when people cough, sneeze, or talk. People with flu are most contagious during the first three days of their illness. Most people are able to infect others one day before symptoms begin and up to five to seven days after becoming sick, but young children and people with weakened immune systems may be contagious for longer periods of time.
The following steps can help protect yourself and prevent the spread of the flu and other contagious respiratory illnesses:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands. You can also choose to wear a mask to protect against breathing in infectious particles from people around you.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu. Clean frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly.
- Improve air quality by bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.
MORE ABOUT FLU SHOTS
The best protection against the flu is a flu shot. About 144.9 million doses of flu vaccine have been distributed as of December 31, 2024. This is a decrease from previous recent seasons.
There are many different types of flu viruses. Flu vaccines protect against the 3 or 4 viruses that researchers believe will be most common in the upcoming season.
Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu. Flu vaccines can also reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalization by reducing the length and severity of symptoms. Flu vaccination also has been shown to significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from influenza. Even if the flu that is circulating is not exactly the same as the type in the vaccine, it still provides partial protection against getting sick.
It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body.
After you receive a vaccination, you may notice your immune system reacting to the flu shot with mild symptoms; this is a sign that the vaccine is working. The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. Flu shots do not contain flu viruses that could infect you and cause flu illness. Flu shots either contain flu viruses that have been “inactivated” (or killed) and therefore are not infectious, or they do not contain any flu viruses at all.
The Centers for Disease Control recommend that all people ages 6 months and up be vaccinated against the flu each year. This is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
Vaccination also is important for health care workers and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to others. Since infants younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated, people who live with or care for infants should also be vaccinated.
Older adults are recommended to request a “high-dose” flu vaccine, which is specifically designed for people 65 years and older and contains a higher dose of antigen to create a better immune response, and therefore, better protection against flu.
Flu vaccines are available at pharmacies and doctor’s offices throughout the community, as week as at Transylvania Public Health. Most insurance plans cover flu vaccines at 100 percent, and some people, including children with Medicaid, Health Choice or no insurance, can receive flu vaccine at no cost. Contact your provider with any payment and insurance questions.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/.
If you have symptoms of flu and are at increased risk for complications, are very sick, or are worried about your illness, contact your health care provider.