By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
Kentucky has already seen 785 cases of influenza since the flu season started in late September, and is sure to have many more, since the season won't officially end until May.
A recent uptick in cases has prompted the state health department to upgrade the state's flu activity level to "regional," a classification that is applied when increases in flu cases have been confirmed in at least two, but less than half of the state's 17 regions.
According to the weekly influenza surveillance report, during the week of Nov. 17 and Nov. 23, 275 new cases of the flu were reported in Kentucky, with increases in four of the state's 17 regions. No flu-related deaths have been reported this year.
Last year, the state had 17,665 confirmed cases of the flu and 196 flu-related deaths, including two children, according to the state health department.
A county-by-county map shows that Perry and Jefferson counties have been two of the hardest hit. Perry County has reported 155 cases this season, with 60 of them during the week of Nov. 17 to Nov. 23 and Jefferson County has reported 149, with 91 of them during the same week.
Knott County with 65 cases, Leslie with 69, Pike with 49, and Bullitt and Letcher counties with 35 each have also been hard hit. That said, every region of the state has seen some flu activity this season.
Knott, Leslie, Letcher and Perry counties are all in the Kentucky River District Health Department in Eastern Kentucky. It's director, Scott Lockard, said these numbers are likely even higher since they only include lab-confirmed cases, noting that providers often quit testing for the flu when they are in the full swing of the season. "We've had a lot more sick people than that," he said.
Lockard said the best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year. He noted that his health department is constantly working to encourage people to get vaccinated and to dispel much of the misinformation that persist when it comes to getting vaccinated.
"It's an uphill battle with education about that," he said. "It just concerns me that there's so much misinformation about vaccines in general and flu vaccines."
For example, he said many people believe that getting a flu shot will cause them to get the flu, which is just not true. Or that it's better to get the flu than the flu vaccine, especially if they are in generally good health.
Lockard stressed that getting a flu shot is not just about an individuals self-protection, but is also about promoting "herd immunity," which occurs when enough people have been immunized against a disease to protect others who are not immunized. Some because their immune systems are too weak to allow them to be vaccinated, or because they are too young to be vaccinated.
"It's not always about you, it's about your elderly grandmother that you go see. It's about the baby you are around," he said. Later adding, "I think people underestimate the flu. They don't realize how deadly it can actually be to our very old and our very young."
So far this season, about 250 of the cases have been in children between the ages of one and 10 and about 100 of them have been in those under the age of 20, highlighting the importance of getting children vaccinated, especially because they are more vulnerable to serious complications of the flu, including death.
Lockard also said to not underestimate the importance of following good hygiene practices to prevent the flu, like covering your cough and making sure you are washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 full seconds.
"There's a big difference in washing your hands and getting your germs wet," he said.
He also stressed the importance of avoiding close contact with those who are sick, staying home when you are sick, and keeping frequently touched surfaces -- like door knobs and hand-rails-- clean and disinfected. He also discouraged shaking hands with others during the flu season, calling it "the worst thing you can do."
Flu is very contagious and is caused by a virus that spreads from person to person. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and body aches.
Persons who develop symptoms should contact their medical provider immediately to determine if they are a good candidate for treatment with an antiviral drug, which could shorten the course of the illness or reduce its severity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over six months of age get a flu vaccination, and especially encourages people who may be at higher risk for complications or negative consequences get one, including children 6 months to 5 years old and their caregivers, women who are or might be pregnant during flu season, people 50 and older and their caregivers, obese people, those with chronic health problems, residents of long-term care facilities and health care workers.
Vaccinations can be given any time during the flu season, but take about two weeks following the administration of the vaccine for the recipient to develop protection from the flu.
If you're looking for a place to get your flu shot, the CDC offers an interactive "flu vaccine finder" that allows you to type in your ZIP code to find nearby locations that offer flu shots. Local health departments also offer the vaccine. Medicaid and Medicare and most private insurance providers cover flu vaccination at no cost to the patient as a preventive service.
Kentucky Health News
Kentucky has already seen 785 cases of influenza since the flu season started in late September, and is sure to have many more, since the season won't officially end until May.
A recent uptick in cases has prompted the state health department to upgrade the state's flu activity level to "regional," a classification that is applied when increases in flu cases have been confirmed in at least two, but less than half of the state's 17 regions.According to the weekly influenza surveillance report, during the week of Nov. 17 and Nov. 23, 275 new cases of the flu were reported in Kentucky, with increases in four of the state's 17 regions. No flu-related deaths have been reported this year.
Last year, the state had 17,665 confirmed cases of the flu and 196 flu-related deaths, including two children, according to the state health department.
A county-by-county map shows that Perry and Jefferson counties have been two of the hardest hit. Perry County has reported 155 cases this season, with 60 of them during the week of Nov. 17 to Nov. 23 and Jefferson County has reported 149, with 91 of them during the same week.
Knott County with 65 cases, Leslie with 69, Pike with 49, and Bullitt and Letcher counties with 35 each have also been hard hit. That said, every region of the state has seen some flu activity this season.
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| Scott Lockard |
Lockard said the best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year. He noted that his health department is constantly working to encourage people to get vaccinated and to dispel much of the misinformation that persist when it comes to getting vaccinated.
"It's an uphill battle with education about that," he said. "It just concerns me that there's so much misinformation about vaccines in general and flu vaccines."
For example, he said many people believe that getting a flu shot will cause them to get the flu, which is just not true. Or that it's better to get the flu than the flu vaccine, especially if they are in generally good health.
Lockard stressed that getting a flu shot is not just about an individuals self-protection, but is also about promoting "herd immunity," which occurs when enough people have been immunized against a disease to protect others who are not immunized. Some because their immune systems are too weak to allow them to be vaccinated, or because they are too young to be vaccinated.
"It's not always about you, it's about your elderly grandmother that you go see. It's about the baby you are around," he said. Later adding, "I think people underestimate the flu. They don't realize how deadly it can actually be to our very old and our very young."
So far this season, about 250 of the cases have been in children between the ages of one and 10 and about 100 of them have been in those under the age of 20, highlighting the importance of getting children vaccinated, especially because they are more vulnerable to serious complications of the flu, including death.
Lockard also said to not underestimate the importance of following good hygiene practices to prevent the flu, like covering your cough and making sure you are washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 full seconds.
"There's a big difference in washing your hands and getting your germs wet," he said.
He also stressed the importance of avoiding close contact with those who are sick, staying home when you are sick, and keeping frequently touched surfaces -- like door knobs and hand-rails-- clean and disinfected. He also discouraged shaking hands with others during the flu season, calling it "the worst thing you can do."
Flu is very contagious and is caused by a virus that spreads from person to person. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and body aches.Persons who develop symptoms should contact their medical provider immediately to determine if they are a good candidate for treatment with an antiviral drug, which could shorten the course of the illness or reduce its severity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over six months of age get a flu vaccination, and especially encourages people who may be at higher risk for complications or negative consequences get one, including children 6 months to 5 years old and their caregivers, women who are or might be pregnant during flu season, people 50 and older and their caregivers, obese people, those with chronic health problems, residents of long-term care facilities and health care workers.
Vaccinations can be given any time during the flu season, but take about two weeks following the administration of the vaccine for the recipient to develop protection from the flu.
If you're looking for a place to get your flu shot, the CDC offers an interactive "flu vaccine finder" that allows you to type in your ZIP code to find nearby locations that offer flu shots. Local health departments also offer the vaccine. Medicaid and Medicare and most private insurance providers cover flu vaccination at no cost to the patient as a preventive service.
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