Colorado Flu Cases Uptick, What You Need To Know

DENVER, CO — Since Aug. 1, 438 Coloradans have been hospitalized with flu, which state health experts say is about double the number of cases expected this time of year. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment urges Coloradans ages 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine, ideally before the end of October. With a more virulent strain of influenza expected, the Centers for Disease Control recommend skipping the nasal flu vaccine (FluMist) and only getting an injectable shot this year.

"Flu is unpredictable," said Colorado State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy in a statement. "The increased number of cases we're seeing doesn't necessarily signal a more serious flu season, but it does mean the sooner you get your flu shot, the better off you'll be." It takes about two weeks for the vaccination to take effect.
Here are some facts about this year's flu vaccine, provided by CDPHE:

● The CDC, as well as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recommend pregnant women get a flu vaccine during any trimester of their pregnancy. Influenza can be a more severe disease during pregnancy. Pregnant women may receive any licensed, recommended and age-appropriate flu vaccine.

● Options for flu vaccine include vaccines protecting against three or four strains of flu; high-dose and enhanced vaccine for older people; and vaccines manufactured without eggs. People should discuss these choices with their health care providers.

"Healthy people usually recover from the flu, but getting a shot keeps you from spreading the virus to more vulnerable people, such as those 65 years and older, children younger than age five, pregnant women and people with certain chronic medical conditions," Herlihy said.

During last year's flu season, 3,340 Coloradans were hospitalized with flu. Two Colorado children died, according to CDPHE.

So far this year, no pediatric deaths associated with influenza have been reported for the 2017-18 influenza season.

There was one "novel influenza A variant (H1N2v)" detected, CDPHE said.

An individual hospitalized with influenza in the San Luis Valley was found to be infected with a novel influenza A virus, H1N2v. This individual had exposure to swine at an agricultural event in the week preceding illness onset.

Check with your health care provider about getting vaccinated, or to find flu vaccines at retail outlets, visit vaccinefinder.org. People who need help paying for flu vaccine should contact their local public health agency.

Starting Oct. 13, the state's influenza data will be posted weekly on the influenza data page.

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