Increased influenza activity reported by local health officials

Influenza activity across our area has increased according to local physicians and hospitals. "This increase in flu activity is not unusual because flu typically peaks during the months of January and February," said David Westfall, M.D., District 2 Public Health Director. "We understand that parents, school officials, child care providers and others are concerned about flu and offer the following guidelines to help reduce the spread of the illness."

• The best defense against flu is the flu shot. There is still vaccine available and since flu season in Georgia runs from October to May, you can still get protection.

• Flu is spread by coughing and sneezing. By covering our mouth and nose when we cough and sneeze, we reduce the chance of spreading the disease.

• Wash your hands frequently and well. Flu germs can live on hard surfaces up to 24 hours. When we handle common items like phones, door knobs, and pens, germs can get on our hands. If we touch our mouth, eyes, or nose then the germs can enter our bodies.

• Avoid people who are sick, and if you are sick, stay home from work or school.

Flu can be more severe in the elderly, the very young, and people who have weakened immune systems. During this time of increased flu activity, you might consider making phone calls to people in this group instead of personal visits to reduce the chance of giving them the flu.

There are several different strains of flu. Each year vaccine is prepared to guard against the most common strains of flu that are circulating. Sometimes a type of flu that was not included in the vaccine for that year may suddenly become active. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine may still offer cross protection for this emerging strain.

Each year in the United States, about 200,000 people are hospitalized by influenza and approximately 36,000 people die from flu.

In Georgia, private physicians can volunteer to be 'sentinel providers' and be part of the CDC's national network of influenza surveillance. Reports and cultures from sentinel providers monitor flu activity and can track the increases, peaks, and strains of the influenza season. Physicians are contacted in late summer by District 2 Public Health to see if they want to volunteer to participate in the program. We encourage interested physicians to consider participating in this program.

For more information on influenza, please go to: www.cdc.gov or www.health.state.ga.us