It is not too late to get a flu shot this season.
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“It is my belief we had two definitive flu related deaths”, Brazier said.
Graves said if someone thinks they have flu symptoms, there are steps they should take to reduce the chance of passing it to another.
The number of confirmed flu cases and hospitalizations spiked in the last week as the virus continues to have a major impact across NY. He said someone can stay contagious for five to six days. Officials report eight in Oklahoma County and 60 deaths elsewhere across the state.
That graph above depicts the number of lab-confirmed cases across the state this season (red line) compared to the previous three seasons.
Flu shots are available at Oakland County Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield from noon to 8 p.m. on Mondays and 8:30 a.m.to 5 p.m. “Our county health department clinics are providing flu vaccines at no charge to patients until vaccine supplies are depleted”.
Cuomo said both categories represent the highest weekly numbers since reporting began in 2004.
“Good handwashing is probably the number one defense after the vaccination”, she said. So far, t652 influenza cases have been confirmed this season.
This year the flu is hitting older Georgians especially hard. The number of deaths for the week of January 21 to 28 were not included in the report.
Buckingham said officials have been emphasizing hand hygiene and coughing etiquette. We also are looking for ways to increase capacity to care for more community members in addition to trying to find a way to see them more quickly. And since the flu is considered widespread and at high activity levels in IN, people need to protect themselves as much as they can, the nurse said. “And know the signs and symptoms of the flu, which includes cough, running nose, sore throat, fever, chills, headache, body aches and possibly vomiting and diarrhea”.
The state health department doesn’t release the ages, counties or other details to protect the privacy of flu victims, but many county health departments report flu-related deaths for their counties.
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Local medical officials like Johnson urge residents to get a flu shot if they haven’t already. The flu shots that people receive are developed to combat those strains, Graves said.
