The flu season has started early and bitten into DeKalb County hard this year.
According to Michiko Martin of Family Medical Center, out of 228 people showing flu-like symptoms, 104 positive cases have already been identified since Nov. 1.
“This is probably the earliest we’ve seen flu season start,” Martin told the Review. “Last year at this time we only had a handful of confirmed cases.”
Martin said last year’s fairly uneventful season may have led some people to delay vaccinations this year.
“The really mild season last year may have caused some people to wait until later to get a shot.” she said. “It hit early this year. We started getting cases at the end of October. Normally we don’t see a lot of the flu until between December and February.”
Family Medical records reveal that 88 of the 104 confirmed cases this season tested positive for Type “A” flu, a group which includes the H1N1 virus, Swine Flu and Avian Flu, and 16 people tested positive for the type “B” seasonal virus.
Martin said that while it is not too late to get a flu shot, the vaccine does take some time to take effect.
“It’s not too late to get a vaccination, but it does take 14 days to get into your system,” she said.
Martin said that Tamiflu may be of help to flu sufferers who catch the symptoms in time.
“Tamiflu is effective if given within 48 hours of the first symptoms,” she said. “Most of the battle is treating the symptoms. Tamiflu will likely take a couple of days off your recovery.”
According to Martin, good hygiene may the best prevention against the flu, and even though you have beaten one type of the virus, you can still catch another strain.
“Washing your hands regularly may be the best preventive measure,” she said. “Just because you have had Type “A” doesn't mean you won’t get Type “B.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, pregnant women, children younger than five, but especially children younger than two years old, people 65 years of age and older and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease are at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications.
The CDC reminds that some children six months through eight years of age require two doses of influenza vaccine to be fully protected.
Children in this age group who are getting vaccinated for the first time will need two doses of vaccine, spaced at least 28 days apart.
Some children who have received influenza vaccine previously will also need two doses.
Your child's health care provider can tell you if your child needs two doses.
If you're not sure or have questions about what vaccine to get, talk with your doctor or health care provider.