Influenza Activity
Increasing in Orange County
For
Immediate Release: February 14, 2008
Contact: Howard
Sutter (714) 834-2178
(Santa Ana) -
Reports from
health care providers and laboratories indicate that influenza
activity in Orange County is increasing, mirroring a trend being
seen in the rest of California and nationwide.
“In addition
to influenza, there are a number of other respiratory viruses
circulating in the community,” said Eric G. Handler, M.D., M.P.H,
Orange County Health Officer. “We can all help to reduce the
spread of the flu and other illnesses by taking simple steps
such as washing our hands frequently, covering our mouth and
nose when we sneeze or cough, and staying home from work or
school if we are sick. It is also not too late to get a flu shot
this season.”
Flu shots are
still available from the Orange County Health Care Agency for
individuals at-risk of severe complications from influenza.
These include adults 50 years of age and older, those with
chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease, children
from six through 59 months of age and pregnant women.
Information about flu shots is available by calling the Health
Care Agency’s Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448. Flu shots
may also still be available at doctor’s offices and primary or
urgent care clinics.
There have
been reports of severe pediatric influenza cases in Orange
County this flu season, including one possible influenza related
pediatric death. While pediatric deaths from influenza do not
occur frequently in Orange County, it is not unusual to have one
or two each flu season. Severe flu symptoms include difficulty
breathing, persistent fever, recurrence of fever and worsening
of symptoms after an initial improvement, signs of dehydration,
and change in alertness.# # # |
