4 Dead From Flu In Georgia, 300+ Hospitalized

ATLANTA, GA — At least four people have died and more than 300 have been hospitalized in Georgia from illness related to a flu outbreak that state medical officials say is widespread.

Those numbers are expected to increase, too, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. The department is urging anyone who has not yet gotten a flu shot to do so as soon as possible.

"It is not too late to get a flu shot," said Dr. J. Patrick O’Neal, the department's commissioner. "Every individual over the age of six months should get a flu vaccine – not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications."

Georgia is one of several states around the country where flu has hit hard. Experts believe the current flu season — which extends from Oct. 1, 2017 through May 19, 2018 — will be particularly bad.

This year, the predominant strain of flu circulating in Georgia and around the country is influenza A, or H3N2. This strain can be particularly hard on the very young, people over age 65, or those with existing medical conditions. H3N2 is one of the strains contained in this year’s flu vaccine along with two or three others, depending on the vaccine.

Flu symptoms and their intensity can vary from person to person, and can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. If you think you have the flu, call or visit your doctor.

In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend the use of antivirals such as Tamiflu or Relenza. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines that fight against the flu in your body. Antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within two days of getting sick.

Antivirals are used to treat those at high risk for flu complications — young children, the elderly, individuals with underlying medical conditions and women who are pregnant. Most otherwise-healthy people who get the flu, however, do not need to be treated with antiviral drugs.

The Department of Public Health provided a list of ways to help prevent the flu:

• Frequent and thorough hand-washing with soap and warm water.
• Alcohol-based gels are the next best thing if you don’t have access to soap and water.
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing to help prevent the spread of the flu. Use a tissue or cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or arm.

• Avoid touching your face as flu germs can get into the body through mucus membranes of the nose, mouth and eyes.
• If you are sick, stay home from school or work. Flu sufferers should be free of a fever, without the use of a fever reducer, for at least 24 hours before returning to school or work.
• If you are caring for a sick individual at home, keep them away from common areas of the house and other people as much as possible. If you have more than one bathroom, have the sick person use one and well people use the other. Clean the sick room and the bathroom once a day with household disinfectant. Thoroughly clean linens, eating utensils, and dishes used by the sick person before reusing.
• To learn more about influenza log on to www.flu.gov.

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