PARSONS – Local health officials report the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a press release Friday stating that getting a flu vaccine this season reduced a person’s risk of having to go to the doctor because of flu by 23 percent, a figure that is significantly lower than the normal 50 to 60 percent.
“I only have two definitive cases reported of H3N2,” Kim Ledden, Tucker County Health Department Director of Nursing said. “I am sure there are more cases of flu in the county. The virus has mutated, and the mutation is not covered in the flu vaccine.”
Ledden said the positive cases are those that are actually tested in the state lab.
“We haven’t had any more cases than any other years so far this flu season,” Ledden said. “It is active in our community. Some places test with a quick test and doctors recognize the symptoms. Use precaution – good hand washing is essential and if you have symptoms of the flu, check with your doctor. Also stay home from school or work until you are better.”
Ways to prevent the flu include avoiding close contact with sick people. The CDC recommends that folks with flu like symptoms stay home until 24 hours after their fever is gone and to limit contact with others as much as possible to prevent spreading the flu.
Tucker County School Nurse Kathy DiBacco said she has not encountered many flu cases in the school.
“I have had no reports of flu from parents,” DiBacco said. “Most of the students that are sick have gastroenteritis symptoms.”
Additional information about the flu is available from your personal physician, or by calling the Tucker County Health Department at 304-478-3572. Information about the flu is available online at www.cdc.gov.
