KS spread very high as ‘super flu’ sweeps the US. Have cases reached their peak?
With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting Kansas is seeing “very high” flu activity, Sedgwick County officials are expecting another spike in cases following holiday gatherings.
For the week of Dec. 21, 18.2% of emergency department visits in the county were for respiratory illnesses, including influenza. That’s compared to 11.5% in mid-November.
But even with the spike expected in mid- to late January, Sedgwick County has not reached peak flu season.
“[The peak] could be in February, it could be March. It really just depends on the season, but it’s important for people to know that, no, we are not at our peak for flu, and [there is] still time for people to get a flu shot,” Adrienne Byrne, the director of Sedgwick County Health Department, told The Eagle.
Flu season usually hits the U.S. in the fall and winter months, with cases peaking from December to February, but it varies by year.
The high spread in Kansas and many states comes as officials report a powerful strain of influenza, dubbed “super flu,” accelerating cases across the country.
According to CDC’s tracking map, the majority of states seeing “very high” spread as of Dec. 27. Looking at Kansas’ neighboring states, only Oklahoma is considered “moderate” for flu activity. Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado are all considered very high — with Missouri and Colorado in the highest possible category.
“At this point, the surveillance data indicates the United States may likely experience a moderate to above average [flu] season,” Byrne said. “Looking at the data, you might think, ‘why would it be moderate to above when everyone appears to be in a really bad increase?’ It can vary per week. So they’re just looking at overall, but it is safe to say that in Kansas, influenza-like activity is … very high.”
Unlike the common cold, which can include sore throat and stuffy nose symptoms that appear gradually, flu symptoms usually come on quickly, the CDC says.
Those include a stuffy nose, sore throat, fever, cough, headache and fatigue, just to name a few. Byrne said people should seek medical attention if that are having difficulty breathing.
If you have the flu — or think you do — you should not be around others until you’re fever-free for 24 hours and your symptoms have been improving without the help of medication.
“Then someone can go back to work, be around the people, but then the recommendation is to wear a mask for five days,” Byrne said.
Where can I get my flu shot in Sedgwick County?
Current data shows this year’s vaccine is 70 to 75% effective in children and 30 to 40% effective in adults, Byrne previously told The Eagle.
While that may seem low for adults, Byrne is still encouraging people to get the shot as it significantly reduces the risk of serious illness if you do come down sick with the flu.
“It’s important that people know that they still have coverage through the flu shot because of the viruses mutating. So when the viruses change, there are connections to the previous viruses that the flu shot was created through,” Byrne said. “So it may not protect from getting the flu, but if we do get the flu, it’s going to reduce the severity and duration of the symptoms that we get.”
The Sedgwick County Health Department offers the flu shot to uninsured adults and children, as well as children with Medicaid, Aetna Better Health, UnitedHealthcare or Sunflower at its main clinic located at 2716 W. Central.
Pharmacies across the city, like Walgreens and CVS, also offer the flu vaccine. You can see where you can get yours through the CDC’s online flu shot locator.
