By Sarah Mahan

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Winter is generally the time for sniffling, sneezing, and the flu, but it seems flu season, which generally occurs during winter, has started earlier than in previous years.

“Last time it picked up in January and even through March,” Dr. Sai Namburu, owner of Selma Urgent Care, said. “This year it started up a little bit early, but we just have to see how January and February are going to look.”

Flu seasons commonly peaks during January or February in the United Sates, and in the region containing Alabama, a large spike in the number of flu cases has occurred in previous weeks, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC also reports Alabama is one of six states reporting high flu-like activity, and one of 10 states reporting widespread flu activity.

“If they started having symptoms within a couple of days, we put them on Tamiflu and an antibiotic,” Namburu said. “If we don’t treat it with antibiotic they get upper respiratory infections and secondary bacterial infections. After a few days, you can treat symptoms, but Tamiflu really won’t help if they’ve had flu-like symptoms for three or four days.”

So far this season, Selma-based Vaughan Regional Medical Center has had 123 lab confirmed flu cases — most of which have been treated in the Emergency Room — as compared to 184 lab confirmed cases in 2012. Patients are also presenting with flu-like illnesses that are treated the same as the flu, but not laboratory confirmed, according to data released by Vaughn Regional.

Last flu Season, Vaughan said it saw cases until the second week of April, meaning flu season will likely continue into the spring.

Namburu and Vaughn Regional recommended several ways to decrease the likelihood of catching the flu, especially for older adults and children who Namburu said are most often affected by the flu:

Get a flu vaccine; it is not too late.

Cover your nose and mouth with the bend of your elbow or a tissue when you are coughing or sneezing.

Wash your hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Avoid close contact with people who have the flu.

Stay home if you are sick unless you are visiting your physician.

Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated.