Flu kills 8 in past week; toll up to 36

Sickness in state shows no sign of waning, health agency epidemiologist says

Cases of the flu remain high in Arkansas with no sign of a letup. Eight people have died from the virus in the past week, according to a flu report from the Arkansas Department of Health.

As of Wednesday, 36 deaths from influenza have been reported in the state this flu season, said Dirk Haselow, state epidemiologist and medical director for communicable disease and immunizations for the department. And in the past week, there have been 90 flu-case hospital admissions.

Haselow said this strain of virus continues to hit people ages 25-64 harder than past flu viruses. He said 27 of the state’s 36 deaths have been in that age group.

Also, the number of flu cases has remained higher for longer than health officials originally expected, Haselow said.

“Each season is a little bit unpredictable, but on average they last about 12 weeks,” Haselow said. “This includes six weeks swinging up and six weeks swinging down. I think until it is obvious that we are on the downswing, we have at least six to eight weeks of flu season left.”

Flu cases seem to have plateaued at high levels in recent weeks, Haselow said. He said there has been a slight decrease in cases but not enough to confirm that the flu season is winding down.

Haselow said that with six to eight weeks remaining in the season, flu shots are still available. He said local health units have the vaccine.

Among severe cases of the H1N1 flu strain this year is that of Lora Rice of Greenwood.

Rice, 51, has been in the hospital since the day after Christmas, said her sister, Suzie Stovall. She said Rice,who is in critical condition and in a drug-induced coma, was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital Tuesday.

“It started out as a dry scratchy throat and a bad headache right before Christmas,” Stovall said. She said later Rice was admitted to Fort Smith Mercy Hospital.

Rice is the mother of two and has two grandchildren, Stovall said. She also is involved in her church and acts in theater performances. Stovall described her sister as kind, loving, fun and outgoing.

Since Rice has been in the hospital, she has been able to communicate only for brief periods when medical workers tried to wake her from the coma, Stovall said. She said Rice was put back into a coma each time because her body did not respond well.

“It is kind of a nightmare,” Stovall said.

A tracheotomy was done to help Rice breathe, Stovall said.Before that, a ventilator was used to assist her breathing.

Rice’s transfer to St. Louis Mercy Hospital was necessary so that a pulmonary specialist there could review her case, Stovall said. She said family members were waiting Wednesday to learn what the next course of treatment will be.

It is unknown whether Rice had received a flu shot, Stovall said. During one of the times she was out of the coma, Rice shook her head “no” when asked about the shot, her sister said.

However, Stovall said, Rice was heavily sedated, and it is impossible to truly know whether she had received one.

Stovall said she got her flu shot after Rice was admitted to the hospital.

“Seeing what it can do to devastate a body in a short period of time, it is unbelievable,” Stovall said. “I will definitely get a flu shot from here on.”

The family members of another Arkansas woman have made it their mission to encourage people to get flu shots. Leslie Creekmore of Fort Smith has been in a drug-induced coma since early January.

Jamie Cook, Creekmore’s sister-in-law, said family members plan to campaign for flu vaccinations for the rest of their lives.

“When you watch someone fighting for their life and they lose their baby because of it, it changes you,” Cook said. “No one believes it is that bad until it happens to someone close to you.”

Creekmore, 29, remained in critical condition Wednesday, Cook said.

Creekmore, a children’s librarian, was admitted to Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith on Jan. 11 and was flown to St. Louis Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis on Jan. 14. She miscarried shortly after being admitted to the St. Louis hospital.

A ventilator and extra corporeal membrane oxygenation machine are being used to help Creekmore breathe, Cook said. The power of both machines had been reduced in the past week as Creekmore showed signs of improvement, Cook said. However, she said, the power was increased again Tuesday night.

“They were turning them down, and she was doing great,” Cook said. “They had told us that this would be one step forward and two steps back. We kind of get our hopes up, and then we are reminded of how serious it is.”

Cook said an outpouring of support from around the world has helped the family deal with Creekmore’s illness. Cook uses a Facebook group called Love for Leslie to offer updates on Creekmore’s condition.

“We really thought that it would be for our family, and now it is getting close to 6,000 people from around the world,” Cook said.

“We are strong believers in prayer, and we have been able to ask people to pray specific prayers.”

Front Section, Pages 1 on 02/06/2014

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