Franklin Co. flu cases not 'overwhelming,' Summit Health health official says
The flu season may be in full swing in Pennsylvania, but so far cases of the illness have been mild in Franklin County.
The state's department of health recently designated the virus as widespread in a flu activity report ending on Dec. 29, 2018. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "widespread" is defined as having confirmed cases in at least half of the regions of the state, which the report shows are in 66 out of 67 counties. So far, there have been 6,435 total cases in the state.
However, Gordon Braun, a physician's assistant at Summit Health's urgent care in Chambersburg, said flu cases have not yet been overwhelming.
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Between October and December of this year, Chambersburg Hospital has seen 42 cases and Waynesboro Hospital has seen 30 cases, according to data from Ruth Freshman, director of Epidemiology and Infection Prevention at Summit. Last year, the two facilities saw a similar number of combined cases in the same time frame, with Chambersburg Hospital seeing 55 cases and Waynesboro Hospital seeing 17 cases.
Braun said normally the season starts in December and is over by late February or early March, but it appears that past two or three years the flu has arrived later.
"It’s now January and we may be just getting into it," he continued. "The flu season can be around until April so, if you get symptoms in March, you may still have the flu."
Summit's website states that several common symptoms of the illness are a fever of 100 degrees or higher, a cough, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, a headache, body aches, chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
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For those who do contract the virus, Braun urges them to seek treatment right away within the first few days of symptoms. He said patients will need to get a flu swab to test for and confirm a diagnosis.
Flu patients should take several self-care steps, Freshman added, like getting enough rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
Braun noted that severe side effects are what cause the disease to become deadly, and that the very young, very old and the immuno-compromised are the most susceptible to experiencing a bad virus. Those with other illnesses, such as heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can also experience life-threatening issues, because the flu causes mucus production, coughing and a fever.
Symptoms of severe complications in adults are:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
Symptoms of severe complications in children are:
- Rapid breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not waking up or interacting with others
- Irritability that increase to the point the child does not want to be held
- Fever with a rash
- Flu-like symptoms that improve, but then return with a fever and worse cough
In order to prevent contracting the virus, Freshman noted the CDC recommends anyone 6 months of age or older get vaccinated.
"It is not too late to get your flu vaccine," she added, saying that Summit's physician practices still have the vaccine available for patients.
In addition, there are several measures residents can take to prevent the spread of the illness if they believe they have contracted it or are experiencing any symptoms. These include:
- Washing hands often with soap and warm water or using alcohol-based hand cleaners, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing noses
- Covering noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
- Avoid touching eyes, noses or mouths to prevent germs from spreading
- Limiting contact with others by staying home from work or school.
For more information on getting a flu shot, residents should call their primary care provider's office or visit flu.gov to find other locations in the area.
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