Flu infringes on spring fever
<p>SHAWN GUST/Press Mareva Kammeyer, a registered nurse at Panhandle Health District, administers a flu shot during her shift at the Hayden clinic on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015. The Panhandle Health District is reminding people in North Idaho that although flu season starts as early as October and runs until February, it's never too late to get their annual flu shot.</p>
HAYDEN — Just when folks are getting spring fever, flu season has stepped in the way.
This year's bout with the flu may be considered a late-round knockout.
Epidemiologists are seeing an increase in specimens testing positive for influenza in local hospitals and clinics, according to the Panhandle Health District.
"We’re finally seeing an uptick in flu cases," said Jeff Lee, PHD staff epidemiologist. "Similar to the rest of the country, our communities are experiencing a late start to flu season. The start of flu season is difficult to predict."
Historically, flu season starts as early as October and is typically over by late February, but the timing and severity of flu season is unpredictable and a mystery.
"While flu spreads every year, the timing, severity and length of the season varies from one year to another," said Giovanna Santovito-Carducci, Kootenai Health's infection prevention manager. "There have been sporadic cases seen at the hospital since December. However, we have seen an increase in patients in the past seven days."
Lee said when the flu season starts this late, it can last until as late as May.
"Historically, flu season lasts about 12 weeks here in North Idaho, so we can reasonably assume that this season will last about the same," he said.
Lee said the last time the flu season started this late was 2007-08.
He said the region is seeing all four strains of flu, but H1N1 is the predominate strain.
"Right now, all of the strains are a good match with this year’s vaccine," he said.
There has been one flu-related death reported in North Idaho during the 2015-16 flu season. It was a woman older than 60. The death was reported in December. The PHD declined to provide the woman's exact age and city or county, citing privacy reasons.
Last year there were eight people in the five northern counties and 32 statewide who died from complications of the flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates influenza causes an average of 200,000 hospitalizations and thousands of deaths each year in the United States.
Infants, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions and the elderly are especially at-risk for complications associated with the flu.
Lee said it's still not too late to get your flu shot if you haven't gotten one. Vaccine supply is adequate this year.
"We expect to see more reports of patients sick with the flu over the next several weeks, and the flu vaccine is the best way to cut your risk of illness," he said, adding that if you received a shot last fall or earlier this winter, that should suffice for the months ahead.
The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older. People can also take preventive actions such as staying away from sick people and washing your hands frequently to reduce the spread of germs. If you are sick with flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading flu to others.