MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Seasonal flu activity is on the rise, and statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show type “A” and “B” influenza strains are the most reported by health professionals.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Dr. Matthew Lokant from WVU Medicine said numbers are on the rise in the Mountain State, but our neighbors are in the “very high transmission” area of the most recent CDC map.
“We’re seeing an uptick, but not as much as our surrounding states,” Lokant said. “Some of our neighboring states, like Ohio and Pennsylvania, are seeing a big increase, and we’re starting to see that increase, but not a severe one.”
Despite media coverage of the avian flu, Lokant said that is not a strain we should be concerned with. People at risk of contracting avian flu are those who likely have regular contact with infected birds.
“That is a separate type of influenza; it’s actually H5N1,” Lokant said. “That’s not going to be the same kind of risk factors; those are more concerned with people who have close contact with infected birds.”
The flu vaccine is developed using data monitored from around the world to predict what the most common strain will be. The vaccine is developed using a purified version of the inactive virus to prepare the body to respond to a real infection. The vaccine can take up to 10 days to become effective after receiving the shot.
“Predictions right now for this influenza vaccine aren’t that high; they’re about 30 percent,” Lokant said. “So, that would reduce the risk of being hospitalized by about one-third compared to those who do not have the vaccine.”
Lokant said with any upper respiratory illness, it’s important to seek treatment. Difficulty breathing, a persistent fever, or persistent symptoms are warning signs to seek treatment. Also, hydration and rest are very important during recovery.
“You’ve had a severe flu-like illness that’s been getting worse, or you’re someone with a weakened immune system, or someone who might have a risk of complication from the flu should seek medical care earlier with the flu,” Lokant said.
For some, antiviral drugs can reduce the duration or severity of the symptoms, but they must be taken in a timely fashion to be most effective. Patients can return to normal activities when symptoms are reduced and the fever has subsided without the use of medication.
“You would want to talk to your doctor about that,” Lokant said. “It’s most beneficial if it’s taken within a 48-hour window of symptoms, and that will reduce the duration and complications of the flu.”