Flu death toll hits 25 in Georgia, relentless season could be worst in years

At least 25 people have now been killed by the flu virus so far in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. That’s more than double the number of dead just a week before, when 12 people had been killed. The week before that, it was five.

Another 671 people have been hospitalized in the eight county metro-Atlanta area alone for flu-like symptoms.

For perspective: At this point in last year’s flu season, only one person had died, and only 237 had been hospitalized.

The news comes after the Centers for Disease Control updated the nation on the current flu epidemic, saying it was now as intense as the punishing 2014-2015 flu season and rivaled only by the swine flu pandemic of 2009.

A total of 37 children have been killed by the flu virus this season in the U.S., and both hospitalizations and deaths are rising, not falling. Nationwide, nearly 12,000 people have been hospitalized for the flu, with people aged 65 and older the most common admittance.

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 (such as the old or very young) or other illnesses. In Georgia, nearly all those killed by the flu so far have been 54 years old or older, according to DPH data.

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 doctor for flu symptoms. Usually, around 2 percent of outpatient visits are for flu or flu symptoms.

The national rate is now more than triple that, to nearly 7 repent percent of visits, according to the CDC. In Georgia, it was more than six times the average, from 2 percent to a distressing 12.4 percent.

"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. Jernigan told the New York Times health officials expect to see numbers similar to those from the 2014-2015 flu season, when 710,000 American were hospitalized and about 56,000 people died, including nearly 150 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 Centers for Disease Control said the overall vaccine effectiveness is difficult to predict before a season is over, but expected this year’s shot to have about a 30-40 percent effectiveness rate.

Health officials strongly encourage anyone 6 months old or older to get the vaccine as the “most important step in protecting against this serious disease.” An easy way to find out where to get the shot is by using VaccineFiner.

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

You can also click here to learn more about how to tell the difference between the flu and a less serious illness like a common cold.

This story was originally published January 29, 2018 at 7:46 AM with the headline "Flu death toll hits 25 in Georgia, relentless season could be worst in years."