2017 Maryland Flu Season Reaches 'High Level'

Aches, pains, fever: all the signs of the flu have swept across Maryland, and at least one hospital says it is limiting visitors to help stop the spread of the disease. The most recent update from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, compiled on Feb. 11, says that influenza-like illness intensity was high and flu cases were widespread across the state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says influenza A (H3) viruses are the most common flu strain sickening folks; Maryland health officials agree that is the type hitting the state the most. If you still need to get a flu shot to vaccinate against the three most common viruses do it now, because it takes two weeks for the vaccine to get working.

The Walgreens Flu Index for Feb. 20 puts Maryland about in the middle of the pack for flu cases nationwide. You can search the app by city and state to see how widespread the flu is in your area. And doctors say if you have the flu stay home from school or work. Don't spread the virus.

Flu symptoms include:

• fever
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue
• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis said on Feb. 20 that it is treating a high volume of patients with flu. In order to reduce the spread of flu, the hospital is limiting some visitors:

• People under age 12 should not visit.
• People with cold or flu-like symptoms should not visit.

AAMC’s Clatanoff Pavilion will allow siblings to visit after the birth of a new child, but parents must be sure siblings are not ill.

• Stay home and get plenty of rest.
• Drink clear fluids to keep from getting dehydrated.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent spreading flu to others.

Most people with the flu do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people.

The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick, says the Annapolis hospital. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room.

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

Emergency warning in adults:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Most people can stay home and tough out the flu, but some people are at high risk of serious flu-related complications (including young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions), says the CDC. If you are in a high risk group and develop flu symptoms, contact your doctor right away to get antiviral drugs as early as possible.

For 2016-2017, three-component vaccines are recommended to contain:

• A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus,
• A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus and a
• B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus (B/Victoria lineage).

The flu bug began to strike in October, but most of the time flu activity peaks between December and March and can last as late as May.

And health officials refute the old wives' tale: You can't get the flu from the flu shot.

Flu vaccination can reduce illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations, says the CDC. The more people who get vaccinated, the more people will be protected from flu, including older people, very young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.

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