BENTONVILLE — State and local health officials warn Arkansas is facing its worst flu season since 2009 and urge as many people as possible to get vaccinated.
“In what is clearly the worst influenza season since 2009, the flu has hit early and hard,” the Arkansas Health Department stated in a news release. “The Arkansas Department of Health is currently receiving large numbers of reports of influenza infections, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions from all regions of the state and is already aware of seven deaths from the flu.”
Loy Bailey, administrator of the Arkansas Health Department’s Benton County Unit, said he’s not privy to detailed information on the number of cases reported in the county. Lana Rogers, Washington County administrator, referred questions to the Health Department’s Little Rock office.
Ann Russell, communications director for the Health Department, said the state is barred by federal privacy regulations from releasing some information. She said while the department can’t give the location of the flu-related deaths, she did confirm there have been seven deaths in the state. Russell said there is no shortage of vaccine in Arkansas and encouraged everyone who can to get vaccinated, noting this year’s vaccination should be very effective.
“The vaccine covers 98 percent of the strains of influenza that are out there,” Russell said.
Russell also stressed no one should avoid getting a flu shot from fear of contracting the illness from the vaccine.
“You cannot get the flu from a vaccine, that is an urban legend,” Russell said. “The vaccine is made from dead virus.”
Dr. Gary Wheeler, also with the Health Department in Little Rock, said this year’s flu season will likely be a long one, based on the severity of the initial outbreak. The length of the flu season in any area is dependent on the number of people infected, he said, with mild seasons lasting from four to six weeks and more severe seasons lasting as much as two or three months.
Bailey is working on increasing public awareness of the availability of flu vaccines and their effectiveness.
“I’m getting the word out that it’s not too late to get a vaccine, either from their local Health Department unit or another provider,” Bailey said.
At A Glance
Those At Risk
Those who are at high risk of flu-related complications are encouraged to visit their doctor if they develop flu-like symptoms including cough, high fever, headache and/or muscle aches. Children’s flu symptoms may also include vomiting or diarrhea. The flu vaccine takes 10 days to two weeks to become effective and it is not too late to get vaccinated. Flu vaccines are available at local health units, private doctor’s offices, pharmacies and major retailers statewide. Those most at risk for severe flu-related complications include:
• Pregnant women
• Children under the age of five
• People 65 years or older
• People with chronic conditions such as asthma, COPD, heart disease or weakened immune systems.
Source: Arkansas Health Department
Bailey said the Benton County unit began offering flu shots in October and has worked with schools and through mass vaccination clinics to provide more than 10,500 vaccinations.
“That’s a good jump-start,” Bailey said.
Russell said the 2012-13 flu season has been widespread and persistent.
“This is the most severe flu season we’ve had since the 2009 pandemic,” she said.
The federal Department of Health & Human Service website, flu.gov, states, “A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. It is determined by how the disease spreads, not how many deaths it causes. When a new influenza A virus emerges, a flu pandemic can occur. Because the virus is new, the human population has little to no immunity against it. The virus spreads quickly from person-to-person worldwide. The United States is not currently experiencing a flu pandemic. If a pandemic occurs, the federal government will work to identify the cause and create a vaccine. Flu.gov will provide updates on the steps the federal government is taking to address the pandemic.”
Russell said while this season doesn’t reach the levels of a pandemic flu outbreak, it remains serious.
“It came upon us early and we are seeing widespread activity in Arkansas,” she said. “We have confirmed influenza statewide.”
Wheeler said the severity of this season’s outbreak isn’t really surprising. Nationwide, he said, health officials annually expect between 10,000 and 40,000 “excess deaths” attributable to the flu. In Arkansas, he said, statistics show from 10 to 400 deaths attributed to the flu each year.
“It’s a big issue and not something to take lightly,” Wheeler said. “Influenza, over the years, cycles. We will see more severe outbreaks periodically. This year is within the range of the expected amount.”
Wheeler said in addition to getting vaccinated, people need to be aware of how the flu is transmitted. He said the greatest risk comes through hand-to-hand contact with people who are infected. He said being aware of the risks and modifying your behavior to minimize the risk of transmission is important. He said frequent handwashing and the use of hand sanitizers are helpful.
“People think it’s someone sneezing in your face, but it’s the hand-to-hand contact that’s important for people to avoid,” Wheeler said. “Then, if you do get sick, you have a responsibility not to spread it to others.”
Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas physicians have seen a spike in flu cases since the beginning of the year. Carole Masterson, marketing director, said physicians at the group’s 13 Northwest Arkansas primary care clinics diagnosed 257 cases of the flu between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. They have diagnosed 149 people since Jan. 1.
“We’re seeing a lot more flu this time of year than we normally see,” said Dr. Joshua Rankin of FirstCare Family Doctors Bentonville.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports flu season started about five weeks early this year. Rankin said Arkansas has not been hit as hard as some other states, but the season is still early.
Most flu treatment is geared toward alleviating symptoms such as fever and body aches, but Rankin said if a patient is seen within 48 hours of flu onset he may prescribe an antiviral drug such as Tamiflu or Relenza.
“A lot of people who get the flu just stay home and ride it out,” he said.
The CDC recommends people stay home at least 24 hours after a fever is gone.
Most people feel the worst systems for three or four days, Rankin said, but it can linger longer.
“We still recommend people get flu shots,” Rankin said. “This flu season is predicted to last longer.”
Gina Maddox, a spokeswoman for Washington Regional Medical Center, also stressed the importance of flu shots.
“It is not too late,” she said.
She said emergency room doctors have seen more than two dozen confirmed cases of influenza. A few patients have been admitted.
Washington Regional’s first diagnosed case was in the first week of December.
“Numbers are high for this point in the season,” Maddox said.
Pat Driscoll, Northwest Health System spokeswoman, said emergency room flu cases are on the rise, and while the cases are earlier than normal they have not been more severe than recent years.
Northwest Health System operates about 35 local clinics, and Driscoll said they have an strong supply of vaccinations.
Jessica Eldred, spokeswoman for Mercy Northwest Arkansas, said the hospital and 27 clinics have administered more than 15,000 flu shots.
She said vaccinations are still available, but some clinics are running short.
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Christie Swanson also contributed to this report.