Ryan Parker, director of pharmacy at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, fills a Tamiflu prescription Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, at the hospital pharmacy. (Leonna Heuring/Standard Democrat)
SIKESTON Seasonal flu activity remains high and continues to increase across the country, which is also the case locally and statewide.
We have had as many as 10 positive flu inpatients at one time so far this season, said registered nurse Eric Slaughter, who is the infection prevention/safety and emergency preparedness coordinator for Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. We have already had more flu admissions this year than the three previous years combined. We have had one flu-positive-associated death so far this year.
As of Friday, Dec. 9, Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston had zero COVID patients, two positive type A flu adult patients; two RSV-positive patients (one adult and one pediatric); and one positive rhinovirus pediatric patient.
The vast majority of positive flu cases this year are type A.
The flu that is circulating this year is making people very sick, Slaughter said. We strongly encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated. The predominant strains of flu that are circulating are in the same genetic subclade as the influenza viruses included in this seasons flu vaccine.
He continued: While the vaccine will not prevent you from catching the flu, it will help reduce the severity and duration of your illness, and, hopefully, prevent the need for hospitalization.
Flu vaccine is available locally. At present, the Scott County Health Department does not have adult flu vaccine or adult high dose flu vaccine (for ages 65 and older) doses on hand, but they do have pediatric flu vaccine available. Other health departments have similar supplies.
MDMC clinic locations do have both the adult and the adult HD flu vaccines in addition to pediatric flu vaccine, Slaughter said. Many local pharmacies are also still offering walk-in flu vaccinations, he said.
According to the latest weekly surveillance, which was released Dec. 9 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the week ending Dec. 3, seasonal influenza activity is high across the country. Influenza activity also continues to increase across Missouri and the nation, according to CDC.
Seven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported this week, for a total of 21 pediatric flu deaths across the nation reported so far this season.
CDC estimated that, so far this season, there have been at least 13 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 7,300 deaths from flu. The cumulative hospitalization rate is higher than the rate observed the week of Dec. 3 during every previous season since 2010-2011.
The number of flu hospital admissions reported also increased during the week of Dec. 3 compared to the previous week, the CDC said.
Multiple respiratory viruses are currently co-circulating with influenza. Testing is important to determine appropriate treatment, the CDC said.
As we head into the Christmas and New Years festivities, we can expect that those gatherings will be a catalyst to spread the flu as well as the many other circulating respiratory viruses including COVID-19, RSV, etc., Slaughter said.
Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
If anyone is sick or develops symptoms, please see a provider and get tested, Slaughter said.
Be responsible and avoid gatherings while sick, especially with those who are high-risk for complications, Slaughter said. Practice good hand hygiene and cough etiquette. Practice social distancing. Remember all of the things we have been preaching for the past three years.
