Influenza hitting county hard

The flu bug is striking Whitman County, and it might get worse before it gets better.

Influenza has been confirmed in the county and is likely widespread, according to the county health department.

The number of cases is difficult to estimate as the flu is not a reportable condition. However, Dr. Brad Bowman, Health Officer for the Whitman County Department of Public Health, treated more than 20 cases last week, indicating a widespread outbreak.

“It appears to be a severe flu season from what I have seen at the clinic,” he said. “Most cases have been in unvaccinated patients so I am still strongly encouraging people to get their flu shots. The vaccine does help and reduces complications.”

Bowman told the county commissioners Tuesday morning that he saw between 40 and 50 patients Monday alone.

“The flu is the big thing at the moment,” he said. “This flu is no more lethal than other types. It may spread more than other types, but it’s not any more lethal.”

No deaths associated with the flu have been reported in Whitman County.

Bowman said estimates are as low as 30 percent of the general public has been vaccinated.

The specific strain will not be known until testing is completed, but the suspected H3N2 strain, along with other previously identified strains, can cause significant illness.

Symptoms include severe body aches, fever, coughing, sore throat and occasionally vomiting and diarrhea. It is spread by the small droplets expelled in the air from coughing, sneezing and even talking. Washing hands and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing is crucial to prevent others around you from getting ill.

If you think you have the flu, call your health care provider rather than immediately going to the office as this can help keep offices from overfilling and being a risk for the flu spreading to other patients.

While there are medications to treat the flu, the medications are not always necessary and often only provide marginal improvement and a slightly shorter length of illness.

These medications work best if taken within 48 hours of the start of symptoms.

Generally, a person can spread the infection 24 hours before any symptoms appear and for about five to seven days after becoming ill.

Several practices can help prevent the flu, the most important of which is receiving the vaccine. Anyone more than six months of age should get the vaccination. The vaccine can decrease complications of the flu such as pneumonia that can lead to hospitalization and even death.

People still can get the flu after having the vaccine, but it is usually less severe. Each year, a new vaccine is made with a mixture of flu strains identified in previous years. This year appears to be a good match, meaning people vaccinated are either not getting ill or are having less severe infections.

This is especially important in people with asthma, chronic lung disease, the elderly, young children and pregnant women because these people most frequently suffer complications requiring hospitalization.