Colorado is one of 20 states reporting widespread flu activity. Locally, Mercy Regional Medical Center is treating an average of five to six inpatients daily.
Typically, the most affected age groups are children and infants younger than 4 and adults older than 65; however, people aged 18-64 account for 61 percent of reported hospitalized cases.
Among all U.S. flu-related hospitalizations in the 2013-14 flu season, 98.6 percent of patients have had the H1N1 virus.
“The predominant strain circulating is H1N1, but it was contained in this year’s vaccine and is a good match,” says Guy Walton, Mercy’s infection prevention specialist.
While the flu generally peaks in January and begins to diminish by late February, it’s not too late to get the flu shot. An annual seasonal flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce the chances of contracting seasonal flu and spreading it to others.
Mercy is currently taking extra precautions to protect its patients and staff members from the flu. Specifically, Mercy’s Family Birth Center is limiting visitors younger than 16 to healthy siblings of newborns, and children are not allowed in the nursery.
Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include these symptoms: Fever greater than 100 degrees, body aches, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat and headache.
People who develop flu-like symptoms are encouraged to stay home for 24 hours after fever subsides.
People concerned about a current illness should see their health-care provider for an influenza test. An anti-viral medication may be provided to reduce the duration of the virus if detected early on.
Alison Zarlingo is the marketing coordinator for Mercy Regional Medical Center.
