In Georgia, five dead and hundreds hospitalized from flu virus, CDC says

A serious flu season has left hundreds of Georgians hospitalized and resulted in rising deaths in Georgia, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.

The flu has hit the United States particularly hard this season. More people are seeing doctors for flu or flu related symptoms than normal in every region the CDC monitors.

“That hasn’t happened in the last 13 years and maybe has not happened at once in the past,” Dr. Dan Jernigan of the CDC said Tuesday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He said the season felt strong because of where flu cases were occurring. 

That is, he added, "everywhere."

The flu virus can cause fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, aches and pains and other symptoms. It can be a dangerous disease for those with weakened immune systems or other illnesses.

Usually, around 2 percent of outpatient visits are for flu or flu symptoms. As the new year began, it was nearly 7 percent of visits, according to the CDC.

In just the eight county metro-Atlanta area, more than 300 people have been hospitalized for influenza so far this season. Five people have died of the illness as of Jan. 12, 2018. All of them were 65 years old or older.

"This year what we're seeing is (a flu strain) called H3N2 and we know from past seasons when we look back over 10 to 15 years, this virus causes the most hospitalizations, more illnesses," Dr. Alicia Fry of the CDC told Fox 5.

It's bad across the country too. A national map of flu activity in the country had the entire continental United States, plus Alaska, experiencing "Widespread" flu activity, the highest designation on the scale. Guam, Hawaii, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands saw less activity.

As January began, some states in the north are seeing minimal flu levels, but the entire west coast, much of the Midwest and most of the South are struggling with high infection rates.

So far, 6,486 people have been hospitalized across the U.S. during this flu season, averaging out to about 23 hospital visits per 100,000 people. Most of these patients were 65 years old or older, followed by those in their 50s and then young children.

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
  
  

The department also asked people with mild or moderate flu symptoms not to go to their doctor's office or to an emergency room without calling first, as you may be able to receive medicine without risking infecting others.

This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 2:55 PM with the headline "In Georgia, five dead and hundreds hospitalized from flu virus, CDC says."