Posted on 01/29/2015 7:37:18 PM PST by null and void
HELENA - An influenza epidemic in Montana has killed nine people and hospitalized 318 in just over the past month, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services.
Lewis and Clark County health officials reported no local deaths, but said 41 people in the county have been hospitalized from the illness this flu season.
“The hospitalization and death rates show that it’s hitting the 65 and older population hard,” said Karen Wandel, registered nurse at the Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department, adding that children are also severely affected.
The DPHHS published its current influenza summary Jan. 17. The department is scheduled to release its updated report Friday.
Meanwhile, health officials investigating the cause of the epidemic say half the country is experiencing high flu activity. Flu viruses change constantly, and the drifted H3N2 viruses did not appear until after the vaccine composition for the nation had been chosen in February 2014.
“(Testing in March 2014 showed) just a very small number of these viruses has been found among the thousands of specimens that had been collected and tested and there was no way to predict that they would circulate widely,” said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within its report Jan. 15.
The city-county health department has offered a four-strain vaccination to battle Influenza A variants H1N1 and H3N2 and two Influenza B variants that are not as severe, Wandel said. A three-strain, high-dose vaccination has also been provided to the community, especially within the elderly population.
St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena has asked people who are sick to reconsider visiting patients in the facility.
Jordan Marquis, coordinator of organizational excellence at St. Peter’s, said the vaccination is “not very effective” against the drifted H3N2 viruses. The hospital took in 23 flu patients last flu season and 37 so far this season.
“The hospital has asked patients, visitors and children who have flu symptoms to wear respiratory masks. Staff members and health care workers have worn masks and gowns to prevent carrying the virus from one room to the next,” Marquis said. “These additional precautions have done a good job preventing the transmission of the virus within our hospital.”
St. Peter’s has also isolated patients with flu symptoms.
“The goal is to keep the germs that the patient has in their room, while they have an active influenza case,” Marquis said. “We’re seeing wide spread of the disease within the state and the nation.”
Health officials said the flu is a respiratory disease that spreads primarily from person to person through coughs and sneezes. They urged the community to cover their coughs and sneezes, wash their hands often and stay home when sick to help stop the spread of flu viruses.
Though vaccinations have not worked well against the drifted H3N2 viruses, health officials continue to recommend that nonvaccinated people get vaccinated during the flu season.
“Flu season usually goes through April or May, and the strains typically change as the season goes on. One of the other four strains could become more predominant during the season,” Wandel said. “You’re guaranteed no protection if you don’t get the shot. You’re guaranteed some protection if you do get the shot.”
Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.
The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.
So far the false positive rate is 100%.
At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.
*sigh* Such is life, and death...
And deaths from EBOLA in the US is how many? But the panic is EBOLA .....
That’s really bad, yes, a small-population. My condolences. I wonder if this virus wondered up from South of the Border? However, I’m very sorry for those who suffered this in the big sky state.
Our Ebola Czar has done a superb job of containing that news.
Scary.
It was the early panic that caused us to react and provide better safeguards, as well as directly sending troops and equipment to West Africa to control the growing outbreak.
Sometimes a little overreaction can end up being a good thing.
Influenza ping...
The vaccine is still a good match for the H1N1 and influenza B components. And the mismatch in the H3N3 component still offers partial immunity, thus decreasing disease severity.
we had a 7 yr old kid show up doa in our er on tuesday.
had been to pediatrician day before. flu.
no news coverage which i think is odd.
I would be more worried about the control on the reporting on this situation and the bs death numbers and what it has to say about who has control of the news in general.
Where? If I may ask?
And as I remember 0bama let EBOLA infected people into the country and he wants to isolate our military before they come home.
Just in case you were not included in the ping. Is this affecting even those who received their flu shots?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.