SNOHOMISH COUNTY — A late season flu outbreak is causing crowding at local hospitals and the infection may not have peaked yet, say local experts.
So far this flu season, 15 people, including one child, have died in Snohomish County. As of March 15, 242 people have been hospitalized, though officials say it is the proliferation of the flu rather than its severity that is most concerning.
“The hospital is fully packed. There are no open beds. It’s been that way several weeks. The Emergency Room is extremely busy because of flu and flu like illnesses, people with pretty high fevers, who present with influenza or complications that are making their chronic illness worse,” said Dr.
Yuan-Po Tu who runs flu services at The Everett Clinic.
Tu said this is the highest incidence of flu he’s seen during his Everett Clinic practice of about 24 years.
Monroe’s hospital is in similar straits.
“There are a lot of very sick people in hospital beds” said Renée Jensen, Evergreen-Health Monroe’s chief administrative officer.
This year, two strains of Influenza A have taken their toll. Usually one dominates. While H1N1 started the season, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said 65 percent of cases were H3N2 as of the week ending March 16.
“We are seeing a sharp increase in flu activity across the county,” said Snohomish Health District spokeswoman Heather Thomas, who was one of many out sick part of last week with the flu.
A late season flu is also more likely to infect those who have already gotten a flu shot, according to Tu. The shots were about 47 percent effective based on results from the first half of the season, he said, but efficacy decreases over time. The vaccine also tends to be less effective against the H3N2 strain, Tu said.
If infected, “stay home until your fever goes away plus 24 hours” have passed where you are “off of Tylenol or ibuprofen” Tu said. “This stuff is pretty contagious … it can wipe out an office or sports team or school pretty quickly.”
Twenty-nine Snohomish County schools reported absence rates of 10 percent or higher for the week ending March 16, according to the Snohomish Health District. Seven long term care facilities have reported outbreaks.
If you haven’t had the flu yet, doctors say it is not too late for a flu shot. The vaccine requires about 10 days to take effect, Tu said, but with the season likely to last several more weeks, it is worth it.
Shots are recommended for everyone over six months, according to the CDC.
For those already infected or who think they may be, go to the Emergency Room if you’re having trouble breathing, are incoherent, or have shortness of breath. The Snohomish Health District also recommends seeking emergency care for children so irritable they do not want to be held and fever in infants younger than 3 months. Blue or gray skin color, inability to drink or retain liquids, unconsciousness or stupor, and sudden dizziness are also all indications to seek emergency treatment.
If you have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher for more than four days, you should be seen in an office, Tu said. Finally, if you think you have the flu and belong to a high risk group, be seen in a doctor’s office as soon as possible during regular office hours for a diagnosis.
People at high risk for flu complications include everyone under 5 and over 65; and people with chronic illnesses including diabetes and congestive heart failure, COPD or asthma. Pregnant women and women who have delivered in the past two weeks are also at high risk.
“If you have a high risk condition, in the first 48 hours (of being ill), you’d benefit from being administered Tamiflu,” a prescription antiviral, Tu said.
Symptoms include fevers, chills, body aches, sore throat, runny nose, cough and fatigue. “The main thing is a very abrupt onset,” Tu said.
For more information, go to www.snohd.org/154/The-Flu
