Have You Gotten Your Flu Shot?

The Louisiana Department of Health says they want you to catch beads and not the Flu this Carnival season. Another 163 people have died from pneumonia, with pneumonia and influenza linked as a contributing factor in another 552 deaths. “These steps, I will shout into the void until sweet merciful death claims me, include getting your flu shot”.

Emergency rooms around the USA are crowded with flu patients as the country experiences one of the most intense flu seasons in years, according to news reports. Vaccinations are available at Kentucky’s local health departments, pharmacies, and medical providers.

Russell said it’s not unusual for the efficacy of the vaccine to vary year to year. She says to go to the hospital if breathing becomes hard, there’s a shortness of breath, or chest pain, coughing brings stuff up, fever remains constant and does not break for a few days, or if symptoms do not improve. The Office of Public Health monitors patients with flu-like symptoms using a health care provider surveillance system. “Things that go into mouths and get touched by kiddos get washed extra during the day”.

Schuchat also said “it’s not too late to get (a flu) vaccine”. Outpatient visits for influenza-like illnesses tallied 7.1 percent, well above the national baseline of 2.2 percent, according to the agency.

In the past two weeks, there has been a large increase of illnesses in the Russell community according to Russell County Health Nurse Paula Bitter. So if you’re feeling under the weather, pay attention to your body.

She said there is an anticipated low vaccine effectiveness of 17 per cent against the A strain and a moderate effectiveness of 55 per cent against Influenza B, “which is circulating at high levels in Canada this season”. Flu spreads mainly by microscopic droplets that go airborne when people who are infected cough, sneeze or talk.

■ Avoid close contact with people who are sick. These symptoms usually start suddenly, not gradually.

What should they do if/when they see symptoms?

And there are some signs the flu season will continue to get worse.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, acting chief medical officer of health, said it’s not unusual for the efficacy of the flu vaccine to vary year to year.

Yes. There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating the flu called “antivirals”. This treatment can shorten the time you are sick and also prevent complications. Officials recommend staying home if anyone experiences these symptoms. Do you know someone else we should interview for this story?

The cold winter in many parts of the country may also have played a role, keeping people indoors and helping flu bugs to spread, said Dr. David Weber, a University of North Carolina flu expert.

District employees were provided with opportunities to obtain their flu shots in the fall.