Reports of flu-related hospital admissions have raised concerns that Kent and Talbot counties might be headed for the same epidemic proportions cited by the Center for Disease Control last week.
“Not yet,” says Trena Williamson, Communications Director at UM Shore Regional Health. “As of Monday, there are five patients being treated in Chestertown and 20 in Easton. Of those 20, ten may not be diagnosed with the flu. People are getting a little panicked because the flu vaccines are not perfectly matched to the type of virus coming around,” she says.
The strain, known as Influenza A (H3N3) mutated this year limiting the vaccine’s effectiveness.
Williamson says that physicians still recommend flu shots because they are still effective against other strains of the flu. Also, early flu symptoms can be treated with anti-viral drugs like physician prescribed Tamiflu and Relenza.
Currently, influenza is widespread in 43 states although it has recently dipped back under the epidemic levels previously reported.
Influenza A (H3N2), is especially dangerous for older adults over 75 and children.
Also, people with flu symptoms are asked not to visit friends in the hospital.
Too late to get a flu shot? For further analysis about flu vaccinations and how they work, go here.
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