I’m sure you know someone who has the bug, not just any bug, this is the flu bug and many doctor offices and clinics are busy with patients young and old with the body aches, fever and just feeling yucky. There is nothing mistaken about the way your body hurts and feels when you’re coming down with the flu. And the flu is and has been keeping many Louisianians in bed and sick since October 2019.
According to the CDC, this is another week Louisiana registers as one of the states reporting the flu activity as HIGH. Other states with the same amount of activity or more include Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, and North Dakota. In all 35 states are reporting the flu with high numbers.
Louisiana was the first state in the country to register the state’s flu activity as high. The flu bug in the state was moderate on October 5th of last year. Since then, the state has never been off of the national charts for the flu. On October 19th, the state was the first state to register the state’s activity as high and has never fallen off the registry since that date. Needless to say, the flu virus is abundant in the Bayou State.
State Health officials stress it is not too late to get the flu shot since the flu season may extend longer this year than it normally does. And if you get a flu shot and do get the flu virus your symptoms and downtime may not be as long or the effects from the flu may not be as severe than without the vaccination.
There are certain groups who should get vaccinated to prevent serious health complications associated with the flu. Those individuals are-
- Neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions
- Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
- Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
- Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
- Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease)
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- People who are obese with a body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher
- People younger than 19 years of age on long-term aspirin- or salicylate-containing medications.
- People with a weakened immune system due to disease
Health complications associated with the flu can be severe and can lead to extended stays in the hospital and even death.
Take the necessary precautions to prevent the flu and be sure to wash your hands often.