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Health Department Cautions Public:
Flu Cases Are On The Rise In El Paso County
The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment (EPCDHE) wants the
community to know about a recent and significant upward trend in local flu
cases.
“In January 2008, El Paso County reported 22 hospitalized individuals with
the flu, which represents a marked difference as compared to January 2007 when
only 3 cases were reported,” said EPCDHE Medical Director Bernadette Albanese,
M.D., M.P.H. “In fact, January’s numbers are almost as high as the entire
2006-2007 flu season—totaling 26 cases. And we are seeing cases across all ages,
with 50 percent occurring in people under age 20.”
January thru March traditionally are peak months for the spread of flu, so
this is an especially important time for people to take precautionary
measures—including making sure that they and their families are immunized. The
flu vaccine takes about two weeks to reach full immunity and offers season-long
protection against the virus. Flu vaccinations still are available at
physicians’ offices and some drugstores. For more details on local clinics,
access the Influenza and Pneumococcal Alert Coalition (CIPAC) website at
www.immunizecolorado.com.
Each year in the United States, an estimated 200,000 people who get the flu
require hospitalization, and 36,000 people die from flu-related illnesses.
Common flu symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat
and muscle aches. Complications from the flu range from ear and sinus infections
to more severe conditions such as pneumonia and heart failure. The flu virus is
spread mainly from person to person when an infected individual coughs or
sneezes near the faces of others. Less commonly, flu can spread when people
touch a surface contaminated with the flu virus and then touch their own eyes or
mouth before washing their hands.
Other flu prevention measures include:
• Wash your hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Visit
www.elpasocountyhealth.org for more information.
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