State reports increase in positive flu cases

The Arkansas Department of Health published in its weekly report Saturday that more than 14,000 positive influenza tests had been reported in the state since Oct. 1 and Garland County was listed among the highest hit areas.

So far Garland County has reported roughly 485 positive cases of flu, according to Dr. Dirk Haselow, state epidemiologist for the Arkansas Department of Health. However, he said the number in reality "is much higher because our surveillance methods just capture a fraction of cases.

"Garland County has a relatively high number of reports for week 52 -- each week we look at the number of cases in each county," Haselow said. "Last year at this time we had about 1,000 cases reported for the state and about 42 cases reported electronically from Garland County."

Garland County Health Department Administrator Chris Rowland confirmed Garland County "has seen quite a few cases already."

During the final week of 2017, 203 positive PCR flu tests were reported statewide from private labs -- 159 of which were positive for influenza A, and 43 were positive for influenza B, according to the report. Over the course of the flu season, 28 flu-related deaths have been reported in Arkansas among persons 45 and older.

The Centers for Disease Control conduct studies each year to determine the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine. Effectiveness can vary, but recent studies have shown the vaccine reduces the risk of flu illness between 40 and 60 percent.

According to an article published on the CDC's website "even during years when the flu vaccine match is good, the benefits of flu vaccination will vary, depending on various factors like the characteristics of the person being vaccinated, what influenza viruses are circulating that season and even, potentially, which flu vaccine was used."

"Sometimes changes in the virus can occur from the time the virus is studied to the time the vaccine is produced," Rowland said. "Primarily we've seen cases of influenza A."

The effectiveness of the vaccine won't truly be clear until the end of this flu season when the CDC completes the 2017-2018 flu vaccine effectiveness study.

"We still recommend getting the flu vaccine as the best way to protect yourself," Haselow said. "Some people might still get the flu even if they have been vaccinated. It is likely that illness will be milder in the vaccinated, and the vaccine is more effective in preventing severe complications, flu-related hospitalizations, or death."

The health department recommends practicing proper hand-washing and cough etiquette, avoiding contact with those who appear to be sick, and staying home from work or school if one becomes sick.

Local on 01/04/2018

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