A dozen now dead from flu virus in Georgia, more than 400 hospitalized

A dozen people have died of complications from the flu virus in Georgia, according to the latest data released by the Centers for Disease Control. That’s more than double how many had been reported dead just a week before, when five people were killed.

So far, 404 people have been hospitalized for flu symptoms in the eight-county metro Atlanta area, where the CDC tracks hospitalization reports. Nine people aged 65 or older and three people between ages 51-64 have died from the virus this season.

Some perspective: During last year’s flu season, there were only 186 recorded hospitalizations at this point, and no deaths.

This outbreak is still not as deadly as the one in 2014-2015, however. By this point in that season, more than 900 Georgians had been hospitalized and 20 killed, including a child.

Influenza intensity is rated on a scale of 1-10, and had been steadily rising for months before hitting level 10 two weeks before the new year. It has remained at level 10 intensity ever since. Every U.S. state except Hawaii is now experiencing “widespread” flu activity - the highest level the CDC tracks.

One way to track flu activity is to look at how many people visit the doctors for flu symptoms. Usually, around 2 percent of outpatient visits are for flu or flu symptoms.

As the new year began, it was more than triple that, to about 6 percent of visits, according to the CDC. In Georgia, it was more than quadruple the average, from 2 percent to 9 percent.

The flu virus can cause fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, aches and pains and other symptoms. It can be a dangerous and potentially deadly illness for those with weakened immune systems, such as children, older adults and those also fighting other illnesses.

Across the U.S., nearly 9,000 people have been hospitalized for flu or flu-like symptoms, and 30 children have been killed as a result of the illness this season, according to CDC data.

"This is a season that has a lot more steam than we thought," Dr. Dan Jernigan of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the Associated Press. But as the federal government shuts down after an impasse in Congress, what will happen to the CDC?

As reported by Time, contingency plan from the department of Health and Human Services outlines that even in the event of a shutdown, the CDC “would collect data being reported by states, hospitals and others, and report out critical information needed for state and local health authorities and providers to track, prevent and treat the disease.”

That said, Time reported that the plan calls for more than half of CDC employees to be sent home during the shutdown, a hollowing out of the agency that could slow down disease response at the peak of what is now an outright epidemic.

Alabama declared a public health emergency after the sheer number of flu patients began taxing medical staff. In Georgia, many hospitals, including Columbus Regional Health's facilities, have enacted restrictions on visitors who are showing signs of the flu.

“Hospitalized patients can become infected by visitors who may be infectious for the flu prior to developing signs or symptoms of illness,” said Susan Harp, Columbus Regional Health’s infection control coordinator. “It makes sense right now to take precautions and do what we can do to protect everyone.

Researchers have been dreading this flu season for some time. Australia, which has its flu season earlier than the U.S., had an extraordinarily severe flu season, with a vaccine effectiveness rate of merely 10 percent. Australia's season is often a warning of what comes later in the U.S.

The vaccine being given in the U.S. is the same strain as that in Australia, but researchers are still encouraging everyone to get the shot. Plus, health officials told the Associated Press they don't expect the effectiveness rate to be so abysmal in the U.S. as it was in Australia.

The vaccine takes about two weeks to provide protection, but the flu could stick around until late May, so you've still got time to take advantage of its protection.

Flu symptoms can include some or all of the following:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, although this is more common in children than adults

Here are ways the Alabama Department of Public Health says you can prevent the flu:

• Get flu vaccine; it is not too late
• Stay at home if you have a fever
• Wash your hands
• Cover your cough and sneeze
• Clean and disinfect
• Learn home care

This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 9:00 AM with the headline "A dozen now dead from flu virus in Georgia, more than 400 hospitalized."