Public health officials express concern over Georgia flu trends

ATLANTA — Public health officials said Tuesday they are concerned about flu trends in Georgia.

It is not clear whether the flu season could be as severe as last year’s, state epidemiologist Cherie Drenzek told the board of the Georgia Department of Public Health.

“It’s too early to know,’’ she said. “Some trends to date seem concerning.”

Georgia is being hit harder than other states, she said, because the predominant strain circulating is H3N2, while the main virus nationally is H1N1. In late December, political journalist Bre Payton died at age 26 after being diagnosed with H1N1 in California.

H3N2 was the main virus circulating nationally during the last flu season, leading to 154 reported deaths in Georgia and the nation’s worst flu outbreak in at least 40 years.

As of the end of December, Georgia had four flu deaths statewide and 440 hospitalizations related to the flu in the eight-county metro Atlanta area. Those numbers are up from one death and 193 flu-related hospitalizations at the same point a year ago.

The percent of Georgia outpatient visits related to flu-like illness is 7.4 percent, versus 4.1 percent nationally.

A month ago, Georgia had the most flu activity of any state. Nineteen states now have high flu activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Children under age 5, people who are 65 or older, and those with compromised immune systems or chronic medical conditions are most at risk for flu complications.

Drenzek said it is too early to say how effective the flu vaccine is this time. Last season’s vaccine was a poor match to the virus that was circulating, which limited its effectiveness in the overall population. Experts said even a limited vaccine can prevent many cases, make some people’s flu less severe and reduce the extent of an outbreak.

Drenzek and other health officials emphasize that it is not too late to get a flu shot.

Dr. Andi Shane, medical director of hospital epidemiology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, said Tuesday that “while we have seen a decrease in the number of flu cases at Children’s after the holidays, we anticipate a spike of influenza B infections in late January or early February. Now is the time to get vaccinated, if you haven’t already, to provide the best protection against influenza for yourself and others.’’

Health officials emphasize good hand washing and covering coughs as prevention strategies. The Georgia Hospital Association said Tuesday that it is working closely with hospitals to monitor flu activity.

Georgia has been classified as a high-risk state by the CDC. At this time last year the number of patients requiring flu treatment was higher, GHA said, citing member hospitals.

“Overall, the flu has had minimal impact on hospitals’ day-to-day activity, and aside from changes in visitation policies, hospital activity overall remains normal,” the organization said.

In Savannah, Memorial Health has announced restrictions on hospital visitors, mirroring limits set by hospitals last flu season. No one with flu-like symptoms will be permitted in patients’ rooms, and family members and guests who are 18 or younger will not be allowed to visit patients.

Andy Miller is editor and CEO of Georgia Health News.

Jennifer Parks