Wichita area sees an increase in this viral illness. Is it too late to get your shot?
Recent surveillance data shows the U.S. could see a moderate to above-average respiratory virus season this year.
While Sedgwick County hasn’t reached its flu season peak yet, the county health department director told The Eagle the agency is still seeing the expected increase in illnesses this time of year.
“There’s a definite uptick in respiratory disease, with flu being the primary. We still have COVID, [respiratory syncytial virus], but the flu, we’re seeing an increase in the flu,” Sedgwick County Health Department Director Adrienne Byrne said last week.
Individual influenza cases are not reported to the county, however, data from the week of Dec. 7 indicates 14.1% of emergency department visits in the county were for respiratory diseases, compared to the 10% in mid-October.
“That seems like a small amount, but that’s a lot of people,” Byrne noted.
The county health agency is expecting even more cases after the holidays.
“The week or two after Christmas, and then heading into New Year’s, these are times when people spend time with other people,” Byrne said.
Peak flu season can vary depending on the year.
“Flu season usually tends to end in March or so, but it has gone into early summer,” Byrne said. “It really just depends, but what we know for sure is that we’re not … anywhere near the peak.”
Here’s what to know about protecting yourself from the virus this year.
Is it too late to get my flu shot in Kansas?
If you have yet to get your flu shot this season, it is not too late, Byrne said. You can still get the vaccine throughout the flu season.
Early data shows the current flu vaccine is 70 to 75% effective in children and 30 to 40% effective in adults.
“If you look historically, the last decade-plus of data that we have, the effectiveness is typically between 40 and 60 percent. Right now [the vaccine] is in that range somewhat for the adults, and then higher for the children,” Byrne said.
Don’t let the effectiveness change your mind on if you should get the flu shot, she said. The vaccine can still help people build antibodies to fight the virus.
“There’s something called cross-protection, that means that the antibodies our immune system creates against one flu virus will likely recognize and respond to similar flu viruses,” Byrne said. “They’re all going to be mutations of either A or B, and so the flu vaccine is based on the ones that were predominantly in the season before.
“It may not prevent that mild illness entirely, but we know that it significantly reduces [the] risk of developing severe complications that could lead to hospitalization or death,” she concluded.
You can contact your primary care provider for the flu vaccine, or get it at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens. The county health department also hosts a walk-in vaccine clinic every Thursday, but it will close this week in observance of New Year’s Day. You can call 316-660-7300 to schedule a flu vaccine appointment with the county.
Common flu symptoms and what to do if you get sick
Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, body aches, a runny nose and fatigue. Most people can recover on their own within a couple of weeks, while some can experience complications that can lead to hospitalization.
If you experience difficulty breathing, you should seek medical care right away, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
The best way to prevent contracting virus is to avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose, Byrne said.
If you start feeling under the weather, you should stay home or wear a mask and keep your distance from others.
