Influenza, norovirus having continued impact on Southwest Georgia

ALBANY — In recent weeks, there has been a change in the flu activity as well as clusters of a bug typically seen this time of year that has been impacting facilities in Southwest Georgia.

Norovirus, responsible for about 70 percent of gastrointestinal illnesses, is highly contagious and can spread quickly in enclosed spaces such as daycare centers, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships. Commonly referred to as the stomach bug, it can make a person feel extremely sick with diarrhea and vomiting many times a day — causing people to get severely dehydrated, especially young children, the elderly and people with other illnesses.

“We have seen clusters in long-term care facilities (in our district),” said Jacqueline Jenkins, epidemiologist with the Southwest Public Health District. “These are a group of people who already have a compromised immune system.”

The virus can also cause headache and fever, and has a 12-hour incubation period as well as a duration of 24-60 hours. Since it is so highly contagious, containment of spread is usually achieved by limiting visitation in facilities where the virus is present and cleaning up thoroughly, Jenkins said.

“It is not unusual to see clusters year round,” Jenkins said. “In the earlier months, we see it more in long-term care facilities. It has closed down several cruise ships.”

It spreads primarily through the fecal, oral route. People with the virus shed billions of virus particles in stool and vomit. It can stay on objects and surfaces and infect people for days or weeks, and can even survive some disinfectants, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Intense cleaning is very important, and (thorough) hand washing,” Jenkins said. “There is no cure, no vaccine. Watch for symptoms and look out for dehydration … It is so easily transferable. One person gets it and it usually runs through the whole household.”

People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick and for the first few days after they recover, the CDC says. It takes as few as 18 virus particles to make someone sick, making it easy for it to spread through food or water. Drinking fluids that do not contain caffeine or alcohol are best when treating dehydration, the CDC says.

In regards to flu activity, a drop in Southwest Georgia cases was seen over the holiday season only for circulation to escalate later.

“We are back to where we were (before the holidays),” Jenkins said. “There have been hospitalizations in Dougherty County and in our district.”

The most recent data available from the Georgia Department of Public Health indicated the state was experiencing a regional geographic influenza spread and a total of 23 deaths statewide so far this season.

The age group of 65 and older has been hardest hit, accounting for many of the hospitalizations, public health officials said.

“Responsible hand hygiene (helps to prevent spread), and people can still get the shot,” Jenkins said.

Officials say there has been a change in the type of flu that has been seen in recent weeks. Earlier in the season, Influenza A accounted for almost all of the activity. Now, an uptick is being seen in Influenza B.

“We are now seeing a mixture,” Jenkins said. “We are seeing more B than A right now.”

The bottom line is that more flu circulating has led to more exposure, resulting in higher activity. Clusters are not uncommon in Southwest Georgia through May, Jenkins said, and officials have reported at least one cluster in a long-term care facility in the district.

The good news on that front is, while the vaccine was not found to be as effective this year as originally hoped, it does seem to be more effective against Influenza B. Most of the flu-related hospitalizations have been connected to Influenza A, Jenkins said.

Dr. James Sirleaf, medical director of the emergency department at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, said there has been an increase in traffic over the last couple of months of 5 to 10 percent in the hospital’s emergency center — at least in part due to flu-related illness.

“We hit our height in December, it came down and then it went back up,” he said.

Upticks have been seen in both flu and norovirus, the physician said.

“These viruses affect the whole community. We are certainly concerned about patients with other illnesses,” he said. “To prevent spread, wash hands and make sure things are washed.”

Get the flu vaccine, see a doctor if sick, maintain good hygiene and stay home if ill. That is the bottom line, health officials say.

“These viruses are (out there) all the time,” said Victor Garcia, vice president of emergency services at Phoebe. “When you are sick, stay home. (We know) people want to be tough and work through.”

If seeing their doctor is not feasible, individuals should seek help at a convenient care center. If that fails, go to an emergency room, Garcia said.

Sirleaf attributed the increased circulation — particularly among the very young and the very old — to the cold snap that Southwest Georgia had recently, although the cause of the spread has little to due with the temperature itself.

“People are in enclosed spaces (during cold snaps because they are trying to stay warm),” he said. “When you are in enclosed spaces, that’s what happens.”

While not necessarily worse than in years past, the activity may seem that way this time to due the amount of cold weather the area has had, Sirleaf said.

Sirleaf and Garcia said universal precautions are being maintained at the hospital to make sure staff and patients are protected, including possible isolation of a patient if the situation calls for it.

Speaking for the emergency medicine staff, officials say they do expect patients to hold health care workers accountable.

“If you are seeing someone not washing their hands, let us know,” Sirleaf said.