As the Valley prepares for Super Bowl, ProBowl, the Waste Management Open, Barrett Jackson and other events, hospitals across the Valley reported to Public Health this week that they are seeing increased numbers of influenza-like illness.
“We are a few weeks away from many, many visitors descending on Maricopa County. So with the flu vaccine taking about two weeks to build antibodies, protect yourself and those around you by getting vaccinated today if you haven’t already,” said Dr. Bob England, director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
The CDC reported last month that this year’s dominant strain is the H3N2, a strain associated with more serious illness in children and older adults. In addition, the CDC reported that this strain had mutated making this year’s vaccine less effective against this strain.
“I say it every year. Flu is unpredictable. Yes, we know the vaccine isn’t a perfect match, but it still provides some protection and makes hospitalization and death MUCH less likely. Having some protection against an aggressive strain of the flu is far better than having no protection, especially if you have a chronic health condition are older, pregnant or otherwise at high risk of complications,” said England.
Residents who think they may have the flu and are at high risk for complications are urged to contact their healthcare provider (antiviral medications may help) but not to visit an overcrowded emergency department unless necessary.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the flu vaccine. As always, this year’s flu vaccine protects against at least three different flu viruses (in some vaccines, four); an H3N2 virus, an H1N1 virus and one or two influenza B viruses. In addition to vaccine, protect yourself and others from getting the flu by being vigilant in good hygiene — covering your cough in your sleeve, washing your hands frequently and staying home when you are sick.
Last year, Maricopa County had 6691 lab confirmed flu cases; however, this number is vastly underestimated due to the number of people who seek healthcare and get tested for flu. Estimates are that the actual annual numbers of flu cases are in the hundreds of thousands. The numbers of people 19 and over who die from influenza are not individually reported to the state, but the annual death toll is estimated in the hundreds.
For more information about the flu and its symptoms or where to find a flu vaccine in Arizona, please visit StopTheSpreadAZ.org. Follow Maricopa County Public Health: Facebook.com/MCDPH or Twitter.com/MaricopaHealth.
– See more at: http://www.maricopa.gov/pr_detail.aspx?releaseID=2818#sthash.cNOOJmCd.dpuf