A Houston 12-year-old has died of flu-related causes, the city's first pediatric death of the year.
>>>See ways to avoid catching the flu this year ...
Helen L. Montoya, Staff / San Antonio Express-News
>>Here's how to avoid the flu in 2019
Get your flu shot.
When you get a flu vaccination, your body releases antibodies that can protect you from the most common virus strains, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although it's best to get your shot by the end of October, before flu season peaks between November and March, according to the CDC, it's not too late to get one now.
Stay at least 3 feet from anyone who's coughing or sneezing.
The flu virus can fly about 3 feet before gravity takes over. A flu patient can contaminate the air you breathe, so it's best to keep your distance from anyone with suspicious symptoms.
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Keep your hands away from your face.
Since the virus doesn't infect the skin, it has to make it to a mucous membrane in your mouth or nose to cause an infection. But you risk getting sick when you touch an infected surface and transfer the virus to your face.
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Clean communal surfaces at least once a day.
The flu virus can remain viable without a host for about 24 hours. It's why you should wipe down commonly-touched surfaces at least once a day using household cleaner.
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Wash your hands after touching any communal surfaces.
Whether you're in a public place or in your home, it's smart to wash your hands after handling any commonly touched surfaces. In the absence of a sink, a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is your next best bet.
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Wear surgical gloves when caring for someone who's sick.
In clinical environments, doctors and nurses wear disposable surgical gloves and masks to avoid contact with contaminated secretions and surfaces. Frequent hand-washing is the next best bet when you're around anyone with the flu.
Encourage others to trash their own tissues.
This way, you can avoid direct contact with a sick person's respiratory secretions, which can carry the flu virus.
Keep your lips off infected partners.
The flu virus is contagious beginning the day before you experience your first symptom, any time a fever is present and up to a week after the last symptom subsides. It's carried in saliva, so kissing a flu carrier's mouth or face is risky during this time.
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Give sick sleeping partners their own pillow, and have them sleep on their own side.
Blankets and pillows can host the flu virus for about 24 hours. You can avoid infection by keeping to yourself once in bed and changing the linens if your partner steals your pillow. If flu-infected roommates take up residence on the couch, have them use their own pillows and blankets, or avoid snuggling up in the same spot for 24 hours.
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Keep the windows closed.
Although cracking a window next to your sneezing office neighbor might give you peace of mind, opening the window won't have any measurable benefits. The flu virus' outer coating hardens in cold, which helps it remain viable while passing between people, according to research.
Avoid sharing food with infected people.
Eating contaminated food, such as by sharing a plate or eating utensils with someone who's infected, can potentially make you ill.
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Do your own dishes.
Taking on extra chores, like emptying the dishwasher, can keep an infected roommate from planting his or her virus on utensils and glasses that end up in your mouth.
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Relax.
People who report psychological stress are less likely to develop antibodies in response to the flu vaccine, according existing studies. So don't become obsessed with the flu. Chances are you'll be exposed to it, no matter your environment.
A 12-year-old Houston girl has died of flu-related causes, the year's first pediatric death in Houston and the second in the region.
The girl was sick most of February and hospitalized before succumbing to the disease at the end of the month, Houston health officials said. She had pre-existing conditions and suffered from multiple organ failures, they said.
"It's always tragic to us when a child in the area dies of the flu," said Porfirio Villarreal, spokesman for the Houston health department. "It's important that families get the flu shot, particularly when there are vulnerable patients among them."
The death, the state's seventh this season involving a child, was reported to the Texas Department of Health earlier this week. It was included in city and state flu reports released Friday.
The first pediatric death in the region this year, a 6-year-old girl, was reported in March by Galveston County health officials. She died Feb. 5, just three days after developing symptoms, while being treated at an area hospital for an existing medical condition.
The season's other pediatric deaths included three in north Texas, one in Central Texas and one in the Rio Grande Valley. The first occurred in October and the next four were in January.
Still, the number of pediatric deaths in Texas is down from last season, when the flu killed 17 Texas children and 12,598 people. That season was the worst in a decade, nationally and in Texas.
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But flu season shows no sign of going away in Houston and Texas. The state's latest flu report classifies activity level as high and Houston continued to hold steady, with 2,300 flu-related visits to hospital ERs in the last week. That's down slightly from earlier in the season but more than usual this late in the season, which is typically runs from November to early March.
"We're still dealing with the flu out there and may be for a few more weeks," said Villarreal.
Dr. Michael Chang, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor at Children's Memorial Hermann, said he doubts "we'll see a second surge going forward." He noted that though "we may have a longer flu season than the past few years," there are fewer hospitalizations and fewer positive tests.
Houston health officials said they don't yet know if the girl who died had been vaccinated. The girl in Galveston County had not, health officials said.
The Houston girl tested positive for Influenza B, the Galveston County girl for Influenza A.
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Health officials emphasized it is not too late to get the flu vaccine. This year's is considered a good match, reducing the risk of illness by around 47 percent. Last year's vaccine reduced the risk by 36 percent.
Anyone 6 months or older can get a flu shot. If children age 9 or younger are getting the vaccine for the first time, they need two doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
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Todd Ackerman was a veteran reporter who covered medicine for the Houston Chronicle. A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, he previously worked for the Raleigh News & Observer, the National Catholic Register, the Los Angeles Downtown News and the San Clemente Sun-Post.
