There appears to be an early arrival of the flu in North Texas, as recent reports indicate the region is experiencing a surge in cases, particularly among kids. At Cook Children’s, 180 individuals tested positive for Influenza A during the week of October 18, and Children’s Health saw a similar trend with 177 cases during that same span of time.
Both facilities went on to record significant spikes the following week, with Cook’s reporting 306 positive cases between October 25-31 and Children’s data indicating a total of 242 cases of their own. The numbers are higher than they were last year around the same time and appear to be closer to data reported from the 2022-2023 flu season.
Dr. Bianka Soria-Olmos works at Cook Children’s as a pediatrician. She told the Fort Worth Report that even though this trend is alarming, folks should remember that 2022-2023’s surge only lasted a few weeks. “Its spike started at the very end of September, kind of peaked right after Halloween, and then luckily started to reach its decline right as Thanksgiving came around,” she said.
Health officials in Tarrant County are urging caution in the meantime though and are encouraging residents of all ages to get their flu vaccines early. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone who is six months of age and older should get their shots as soon as possible.
How to protect yourself against the surge of flu in North texas
Dr. Bianka Soria-Olmos said that certain people are considered to be more “at risk” for contracting the flu than others, including those who are really young, have underlying health conditions, or are elderly.
She noted that people with autoimmune conditions who take immunosuppressant medications are more likely to catch serious illnesses, as are babies who were born prematurely, and children with heart problems, respiratory conditions, or chronic illnesses.
One of Texas Health Family Care’s family medicine physicians, Dr. Justin Ezell, similarly spoke with the Fort Worth Report about this year’s surge in flu cases and recommended several ways people can protect themselves from getting sick. Dr. Ezell said, “It definitely is a completely, totally preventable disease.”
Some of the easiest ways to prevent contracting the disease include—among getting vaccinated—frequently washing your hands and wearing an N95 mask if you’re in congested areas with a lot of people. Baylor Scott & White’s Dr. David Winter gave WFAA a few more recommendations to keep people safe.
Dr. Winter said, “We should always take this seriously, I always get concerned when the flu season starts. The flu shot works — you can still get the flu, but it will always be a milder case.” He said in addition to handwashing and wearing a mask, making sure you’re sleeping and eating well and exercising regularly can bolster your immune system.
And, if all else fails and you find yourself with the flu, over-the-counter medications, hydration, and rest are the best ways to treat the illness. Antiviral prescription flu drugs can also be prescribed in some cases, but those are typically only given to people who are at higher risk of getting sick and developing more severe health complications from there.
Additional information and suggestions can be found here.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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