Round two of the flu
Influenza can be seen any time of the year. However, the typical flu season is normally between October and May with peak season being December through February.
DeKalb County began to see flu cases during the first few weeks of the school year in August 2019. Those continued and increased as the typical peak season rolled around. Schools were dismissed for four days in January after attendance fell 12 percent due to students, as well as staff, suffering from the virus.
The flu can quickly trigger other illness such as pneumonia. The virus invades your lungs and causes them to swell, blocking the flow of oxygen and one’s ability to breath. This is currently the case with a DeKalb County seven year-old who is in Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital due to complications.
The DeKalb County elementary student attended school like normal though her mother noticed she had a slight cough. By the end of the day, the child was struggling to breathe. Less than 24 hours later, she was admitted to the children’s hospital in Nashville diagnosed with flu and double pneumonia.
Though over 174.1 million doses of the flu vaccine was distributed throughout the United State in 2019, the number of flu cases continue to rise. This season, for some reason, seems to be the worst seen in many years.
“The CDC’s base level is 2.4 percent,” said PCHD Nurse Debbie Hoy. “Tennessee is currently at 7 percent with more cases being reported daily.”
“People say ‘I’ve had the flu already how can I get it again?’” Debbie continued. “What everyone doesn’t understand is there are four strains out there, so a person could potentially get the flu four times.”
As we know, the flu can be deadly. Especially to children and the elderly. The CDC continues to confirm that receiving the vaccine can help eliminate or lessen the sickness time. Flu vaccines are updated yearly to better match viruses expected to be circulating in the United States. Receiving the vaccine is recommended by the end of October, and the vaccine is estimated to last through the typical season.
Yet, no one truly knows which strain will hit the hardest. Research is based off of extensive study and surveillance into which strains will be most common during the upcoming season.
Family Medical Center in Smithville has documented 92 positives for Type A flu with 100 positive cases for Type B since October.
The Center for Disease Control’s latest report is that Flu Type B predominated during the first part of the season with type A (H1N1) dominating this second half. And it is just what it sounds like, the second round of flu is here.
