The Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases of Influenza Division and the Captain of US Public Health Service continues, “There’s lots of flu in lots of places”.
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There is speculation that the outlook shouldn’t be all doom and gloom, with some pundits believing that the flu season’s severity may have peaked more than a week ago.
Hurst travels between facilities and has seen multiple strains of the virus, meaning most everyone gets medication, with no test.
Luedtke said in past years there has been a vaccine shortage, but this year that is not a concern.
“It may be a less ideal match than we’d like it to be”, Green said.
“Flu is everywhere in the United States right now”, said Dr. Dan Jernigan, director of the CDC’s influenza branch.
The health system also said its hospital staffs are seeing an “unusually high number” of patients with flu-like symptoms to include gastrointestinal problems.
For both conditions, Hughes encourages those suffering from either to do the same – stay home, wash your hands frequently while using hand sanitizer, cough and sneeze into clothing or the crook of your arm and drink plenty of liquids.
Dr. Lan Ly, a physician at Via Christi Hospital primary care clinic, said three or four people have tested positive for the flu in the last week in the clinic. “And of course, I’m always advocating for a flu vaccine”.
The effectiveness of the flu vaccine can vary year to year, because the formula is developed months in advance and scientists can’t always be sure which strains will be most prevalent.
The doctor urged residents who haven’t gotten the flu shot yet to get one.
“Hand washing, is everybody washing their hands when they come in and see you”, Dr. Glenn Hurst said as he visited a patient.
Most people who get the flu recover within days, and in most cases, get better in less than two weeks.
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“She was just in the peak of her life”, Oxley said. In some cases, some people experience vomiting and diarrhea. When you get these vaccines, you are protected from these strains.
