RWJ Somerset Hospital Reports Increase In Flu Patients

SOMERVILLE, NJ — Somerset County is among the top three counties in the state to see an increase in flu cases. And with that local hospitals such as Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, are reporting an increased number of patients with flu-like symptoms heading to the emergency room.

"We have definitely seen an uptick in the last two or three weeks, said Dr. Marc Milano, the medical director of RWJ Somerset's Emergency Department.

The emergency room began seeing the up tick in patients beginning in mid-December.

"We've had a record number of patients in general and increased ILI (Influenza-Like Illness) patients,: Milano said.

Reports of flu cases are up 438 percent when compared to last year in Somerset County. This makes Somerset County the third highest county to be affected by the flu virus with 70 cases, according to the state Department of Health as of Jan. 22.

Cape May County is reporting the highest increase with 53 reported cases up 5,200 percent from last year.

On Tuesday, Department of Health announced that the state's first flu death was a 4-year-girl who lived in Central Jersey. The girl, who was not identified, died in December and was not vaccinated.

Milano said that the hospital is adhering strictly to CDC guidelines an treating patients who have flu like symptoms. Patients are also being placed in isolation to prevent spreading or to impact other patients that my be vulnerable to the flu.

"We have seen about 15 to 20 percent more patients coming in," Milano said. "It's significant and causing an overall rise in hospital volume."

Milano attributes to the increase to the flu being more of a "virulent strain."

"The vaccine is only rated 30 percent and even those vaccinated previously and protected are coming to the hospital and still getting sick," Milano said.

But he still encourages locals to get the flu shot as there are times the shot will still help prevent someone from contracting the flu and also lessen the severity of the symptoms versus if they were not vaccinated.

Symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, body aches, headaches and fatigue. The flu virus is spread through the air, from coughing and sneezing, or by touching something that someone with the virus has touched.

You can pass the flu to someone else both before and while you are sick. Adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and as many as five to seven days after becoming ill, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Some people, especially young children and those with weakened immune systems, may be able to infect others for an even longer time.

To treat the flu, use over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or cough syrup to relieve symptoms. Rest in bed and drink lots of fluids. If you contact your doctor within 48 hours of onset of symptoms, you may be able to take an antiviral drug that will reduce the severity of symptoms and the length of illness.

Here are some additional tips:

• Stay home if you are sick.
• Avoid touching your face — your mouth, nose, and eyes.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Avoid others who are sick.
• Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue.

(Image by Mojpe via Pixabay)

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