Flu season is well underway and West Virginia is experiencing moderate, widespread flu, according to the Monongalia County Health Department.
But what makes this year different from typical flu seasons is more cases of influenza B, said Rashida Khakoo, WVU Medicine section chief of Infectious Diseases.
Influenza B typically shows up toward the end of flu season in March or April with the A strain typically dominating the early months of the flu season, starting in October and peaking in January.
A study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows the B virus killed proportionately more children than the A virus from 2010 to 2016. People over age 65, or who have heart disease or diabetes, as well as pregnant women, are also more susceptible to influenza B.
“The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot,” Khakoo said. “It is never too late to get one and there is no reason not to get vaccinated.”
Vaccines are recommended starting at six months and for pregnant women. It usually takes two weeks after a vaccine for antibodies to develop. To date, more than 170.7 million doses of the flu vaccine have been distributed in the U.S., according to national health officials.
Locally, six people have been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, said Khakoo, adding that, as a whole, viral infections are prevalent this time of year.
Through the first three weeks of December, three children have died from flu-related illnesses, all of which were linked to type B, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Dec. 27. The CDC weekly flu tracker said as of Dec. 21, 22 children 16 and under have died this flu season, with 16 deaths associated with the B and six with the A strain.
“According to the CDC, overall hospitalization rates are similar to what has been seen at this time in recent years,” said Diane Gross, a regional epidemiologist with the county health department. “The percentage of deaths from pneumonia and influenza remains below the epidemic threshold. The total pediatric deaths for the season so far in the United States is 22.”
Flu symptoms include fever, feverish chills, cough, sore throat, runny stuffy nose, muscle and body aches and headaches. Some flu sufferers may also have vomiting and diarrhea, both of which are more common in children.
“The second-best way to prevent flu is good hand hygiene and commonsense cleanliness measures,” said Mary Wade Triplett, Monongalia County Health Department’s Public Information officer. “If you do get sick with an influenza-like illness, do not go to school and avoid going out into public unless you need to see a health care provider who can prescribe Tamiflu, an antiviral that can reduce flu symptoms.”
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