With flu-related hospitalizations and
deaths on the rise across the Country, McHenry County Department of Health
(MCDH) urges anyone six months and older to get a flu shot to protect
themselves against influenza.
The latest update (January 25) from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates increased
hospitalizations and deaths for those aged 65 and older. It’s especially
important that older adults and other high risk persons (e.g. pregnant women,
young children, those with chronic illnesses) get vaccinated and seek treatment
quickly if they develop symptoms including cough, fever, sore throat, and body
aches, regardless of their vaccination status.
Flu can make anyone, including the healthiest,
seriously ill. Contact your physician to discuss antiviral treatments
which can make symptoms milder and can avert serious outcomes. CDC
recommends high risk individuals begin taking antivirals within two days of
becoming ill. Given the severe impact the 2012-2013 influenza season is having
on people aged 65 and older in the United States, DC is conducting targeted
outreach to health care providers caring for seniors.
It’s not too late to get
vaccinated. People may need to call more than one provider to locate
vaccine. The flu vaccine finder at http://flushot.healthmap.org
may be helpful. The flu season typically runs through May with flu activity
peaking this month and into February. To date, MCDH reports 15 intensive
care unit (ICU) cases of individuals hospitalized with influenza, with 60% of
cases in residents over 65 years of age. The Illinois Department of
Public Health shows widespread flu activity with 534 ICU cases and 58 deaths as
of January 19.
Once vaccinated, it takes 2 weeks for
antibodies to develop to provide protection. MCDH recommends practicing the 3
C’s – clean your hands, cover your cough and contain your germs by staying home
when sick. For more flu information, visit http://www.mcdh.info.
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