Flu activity in Southwest Georgia ‘normal’ this season

ALBANY — A recent death associated with flu has potential to increase fear, but health officials in the Albany area say this year’s activity does not appear to be unique.

Dr. Charles Ruis, director of the Southwest Public Health District, said this time of year is typically considered the “heart” of the flu season in that it is around the time of the anticipated peak. But, Ruis noted, there is still time left in the season for people to be impacted by it.

“It is still appropriate, even (to someone’s advantage), to get a flu shot if you have not already had one,” he said. “There are still six to eight weeks left (in the flu season). If they get it now, it can offer some protection within two weeks.”

Ruis said there has not been an abnormal number of cases of flu so far this season, and that this year’s vaccine — manufactured annually based on the strains experts believe will be most prevalent — has been a good match.

“It is never perfect, but it does appear to be a good match,” he said.

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler confirmed over the weekend that Albany’s first flu-related death of the season occurred on Friday. The victim was Laura Youman, 73, a resident of PruittHealth-Palmyra nursing home on Palmyra Road who was admitted to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital with flu symptoms on Friday before she died at 1:07 p.m.

Ruis said Public Health is stressing three things: vaccination, staying at home until symptom-free for 24 hours and the practice of proper handwashing — or even the utilization of masks, gloves and gowns for those who have weaker immune systems.

Young children and the elderly are among those most prone to complications from the flu.

“That is pretty common,” he said. “Usually, it is the very young and the aged that are the most susceptible to severe cases of the flu.”

Ruis said Influenza A has been most common this year, which is covered by this season’s vaccination, along with Influenza B. He added there is still potential for a high rate of cases in March and April, which ties into the vaccine message.

“We encourage as many vaccinations as possible,” Ruis said. “If we (inoculate) the population at large, there are fewer that can transmit the illness in the community.”

Fowler told The Albany Herald on Saturday that several other residents at the facility where Youman was a resident had tested positive for the flu, and that the whole floor was quarantined.

Ruis said that Public Health will often put boots on the ground and investigate outbreaks and “beef up” education efforts, including signage stating that flu is present at a facility. Aside from discouraging people from going where there is flu, quarantine is not a common component Public Health officials enforce, he said.

Those developing symptoms of the flu — including chills, sore throat, fever and body aches — are encouraged to get themselves medical attention within 48 hours.

“Patient families and close contacts (may get) the same medication that (flu patients) might to prevent transmission to them,” Ruis said.

Officials at Phoebe, while unable to give specific figures on Monday, said there has not been a high level of flu activity in its emergency center this season.

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported the first flu death of the season in the state on Jan. 10. Officials at DPH said the geographic spread of flu in the week from Jan. 22-28, the most recent week for which data are available, was considered widespread. There were 30 flu hospitalizations during that week, and there had been 332 flu hospitalizations overall to that point.

At that time, there had been two confirmed influenza-associated deaths for the season in Georgia. Youman’s death would make at least three so far.

Those seeking additional information on flu are encouraged to seek out their county health department or health care provider.