Flu yet to hit region hard
SANDPOINT — While many parts of the nation are being ravaged by a particularly nasty flu season, the Panhandle is still in good shape.
Many regions of the country are straining resources to cover the growing numbers of individuals with the flu, including opening up emergency centers and using up entire supplies of flu shots. However, according to Cynthia Taggert, North Idaho is still doing fine — particularly Bonner County, where medical professionals haven’t reported a single positive flu testing.
“Of course, that doesn’t mean there’s no cases of the flu in Bonner County,” Taggart said. “It just means there haven’t been any lab tests confirming a case.”
Taggart said that when an individual gets the flu, he or she usually deals with it at home until they feel better. Only when symptoms get serious and fevers climb into triple digits do they seek the help of a medical professional. Even then, doctors don’t always order testing if the patient is very obviously suffering from the flu, a decision that saves time and money.
“If the symptoms are obvious, that’s just what makes sense,” Taggart said.
However, the number of positive flu tests are a useful indicator of how badly a region is suffering during flu season. According to Taggart, the bulk of positive tests in North Idaho are coming out of Kootenai County. However, Taggart also said that they keep an eye on lists of school absences to gauge the region’s health, and so far, Panhandle Health District personnel haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary.
North Idaho residents can take comfort in that fact based on the differing situations around the country. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 states have reported high levels of influenza-like illness, while another nine states have reported moderate levels.
“While we can’t say for certain how severe this season will be, we can say that a lot of people are getting sick with influenza and we are getting reports of severe illness and hospitalizations,” said Joe Bresee, chief of the epidemiology and prevention branch in CDC’s influenza division.
However, there are simple ways to protect yourself as the region heads into what is typically the height of flu season over the next several weeks. According to Taggart, flu shots are highly recommended and still available at Panhandle Health District locations and most pharmacies. The immunities take two weeks to build up in your system, so it’s best to act quickly.
In addition, common-sense tactics like frequent hand-washing and maintaining a distance of three to six feet from sick individuals can make all the difference for your immune system.
“If you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face a little later, it’s all over,” Taggart said.
People suffering from flu symptoms should always stay home. In the case of children and the elderly, Taggart recommended that they see a doctor right away to receive an injection that can dramatically lessen the illness’ impact on the body.