If you haven’t gotten a flu shot, it’s not too late, officials said as Kentucky finds itself in the midst of what health professionals are calling an influenza epidemic.
On the other hand, if it is truly too late and you already have the flu, health care personnel urge you to be a good citizen and please stay home until you have fully recovered.
“I understand work is important,” said Buffalo Trace Health District Executive Director Allison Adams. “But it’s really important to stay home when you are sick.”
That message is being echoed by administrators at the Maysville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
“We are asking that our visitors stay home until they have been over the flu for 24-72 hours,” Amber Hamilton, human resources director said.
With perhaps the most vulnerable population of anyplace, the facility has a sign posted on the door urging visitors to limit stays. In addition it is offering face mask for visitors to use if needed.
Meadowview Regional Medical Center has also been keeping watch on flu activity levels.
“We have been actively tracking flu cases in the organization and discussing this at our daily hospital safety briefings,” said Chief Nursing Officer Lynda Skaggs. “We have noted an increase in flu cases over the past few weeks in our area. We are taking precautions and everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs. Infection Prevention Stations are located throughout our building for public use.”
Despite the uptick in illness, MRMC has not limited visitors, Skaggs said.
“We have not limited or restricted visiting at our facility at this point but as additional data becomes available this will be considered if necessary,” she said.
Schools have also been adversely affected, with several local districts closing their doors to combat the flu and a variety of other illnesses including viruses and strep throat.
Mason County Schools closed Monday, hoping the weekend break and an extra day would suppress the outbreak. However, when students returned on Tuesday, the numbers continued to decline, Superintendent Rick Ross said. On Tuesday, attendance stood at 88 percent and on Wednesday, 85.5 percent, he said. That prompted the decision to dismiss classes again until Monday, March 4, Ross said, in hopes the four-day break will help.
Both days will be NTI days and students will be given 10 days to complete their work, considering that some may be ill during the break, Ross said.
St. Patrick School closed Wednesday for illness. Information for the rest of the week was not available Wednesday.
Adams said while the flu vaccine this season protects against two kinds of flu — two Type A and one Type B, Type A is the predominant type this year.
Anyone who has been exposed to the flu will not be protected now since it takes two weeks to become effective, Adams said. However, those who have not been should get a vaccination.
According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health, vaccine experts recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older should be vaccinated against the flu. It is especially important for those at high risk for serious flu-related complications or those who live with or care for people at high risk. This includes:
— Children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years;
— Pregnant women;
— People 65 and older;
— People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;
— Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
— People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
— Health care workers;
— Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from flu; and
— Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children younger than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).
The virus is spread from the nose and throat of infected persons by droplet secretions to the nose and throat of other people, according to information from KCH. An adult can spread the flu anytime from 24 hours before, up to five days after showing symptoms; children may be able to transmit the virus to others for as long as seven or more days after showing symptoms.
Practicing good hygiene — covering your cough, washing your hands and staying home when sick — is the best way to prevent the spread of the flu beyond a flu vaccination, Adams said. Protecting yourself from other people’s cough is also important, she said.
Without a vaccination, the best prevention is to stay home and avoid crowds when at all possible until the flu season has passed, Adams said. But she admits that may be a long haul this year.
“I don’t think we’ve reached the peak yet,” she said. And with a late start, flu season is predicted to last until mid May.
