Flu striking area hard

Area health care professionals are reporting a significant increase in cases of the flu, and are urging people to take precautions against getting and spreading the condition.

Henry Robertson, a spokesman for Halifax Regional Medical Center, said his hospital has seen the cases of flu double over the past couple of weeks.

Susan Bullock, infection control nurse at the hospital, said the jump in cases is higher than normal for this time of year.

“We’re seeing more admissions, more pneumonia, more complications from the flu,” she said, although actual numbers were not available Tuesday. She said the hospital has been filled to capacity over the past several days, and more people are still reporting to the emergency room for treatment.

Other hospitals in the region -– in South Hill, Va., Emporia, Va., and in Henderson – have reported similar conditions.

Bullock said it’s not unusual for the number of flu cases to increase this time of year, especially among the elderly, but she said this year is different. First, the numbers are higher, and second, those affected seem to cross all ages.

She said part of the problem is that one strain of flu – a more severe strain call Brisbane flu -– is not affected by the flu vaccination given nationwide this year.

“I had the vaccination but I had the flu. I was really sick, it’s the first time I’ve had it in years and years,” she said. Bullock explained this strain of flu began emerging in the United States after the current year’s crop of flu vaccinations was under production.

She added that this strain also seems to be resistant to treatments such as the prescription medication Tamiflu.

Bullock suggests people take special care with hand washing, and to make sure if you blow your nose or wipe your eyes with a tissue, throw the tissue way, don’t leaving it lying somewhere.

“You’re sick one to three days before you have any symptoms,” she said. “You can spread it before you know you have it, so hand hygiene is the biggest factor,” she said.

Bullock also asked that if someone is feeling ill to not visit others in the hospital or in nursing homes. ‘They really don’t need to visit if they are sick,” she said, because of the chance they will spread the sickness to those already in the hospital. “And, don’t go to work if you’re sick, if you’re running a fever. All you’re going to do is spread it.”

Bullock said if someone is sick, the biggest worry is hydration. She suggests not coming to the hospital unless you’re either having respiratory distress, or you’ve been vomiting and not able to keep anything down for a period and are in danger of becoming dehydrated, or are running a high fever.

“Take analgesics for your fever, and drink plenty of water,” she said.

Officials from the health departments in Warren and Halifax counties did not return telephone calls seeking additional information.