| Updated: 3/27/2009 9:55 pm |
Published: 3/27/2009 8:32 pm
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Even though spring is here, lately more people are going to the doctor with the flu. Doctors call it a late season outbreak. And along with colds and sinus infections, the flu is keeping doctors busy.
Typically flu season peaks in February, but it can last well into May. That means the flu vaccine you get in the fall may not be as effective this late in the season.
“It’s kind of a surprise this late in the season,” says Southcrest Hospital Dr. Dwight Hardy.
After seeing flu cases go down, Dr. Hardy says they’re now starting to make a late-season comeback.
“People never got quite as sick from it, we never saw quite as much of it as we normally do and then it just faded away. And in the last 10 days to two weeks we’ve started seeing it again.”
The reason may be linked to the way the flu virus mutates. Even people who are vaccinated for it in the fall, may contract it several months later.
“This particular bug may have mutated around what the vaccine was,” says Dr. Hardy.
From a national perspective, Oklahoma is somewhere in the middle in terms of the number of flu cases, with only small clusters of local outbreaks.
“It kind of came a little bit, pretty much went away, and now it’s back.”
With allergies and colds also prevalent this time of year, how do you know if you have the flu? Here’s what to look for: fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches.
The good news this season, according to Dr. Hardy, is that flu symptoms have been less severe than in years past.
The best defense? Of course, a yearly flu vaccine is most effective. You should also wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer, as well as cover your mouth when you cough to avoid spreading germs.
In addition to the flu, doctors at Southcrest are also seeing more cases of mono and strep throat, as well as allergy symptoms.
