Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/Josh- ... 96659.html



Anyone with a hard, persistent cough lasting three days or longer should see a doctor.

Houston

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 97764.html

Flu activity 'ramping up,' likely to peak next month

Don't look now, but the flu's sneaking up on Houston.

Local flu trackers said activity involving three strains of the influenza virus has steadily increased the last few weeks and Houstonians should brace for the area's classic February peak.

"It's ramping up as it usually does here this time of year," said Dr. Gail Demmler, a Baylor College of Medicine professor of infectious disease. "You never know with the flu, but it looks like it should hit with more force next month."

Demmler said her laboratory at Texas Children's Hospital is now confirming the flu virus in more than 10 percent of patients coming in with respiratory symptoms, up from a few percent two weeks ago. The jump coincided with a decline in the respiratory synctial virus. That virus circulated widely in December.

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Praemonitus, Praemunitus..Forewarned is Forearmed.

It may have felt like spring in the ArkLaTex on Tuesday, but there are still symptoms of the cold season lingering for many.

The Texarkana Bowie County Family Health Center says more than 100 cases of the flu have been reported in February at one hospital.

To some, getting a flu shot in February is better late, than never.

"It's getting pretty strong," said Dr. Paul Sarna with HealthCARE Express.

Health officials with the Texarkana-Bowie County Family Health Center say while cases of the flu aren't at peak levels right now, it's still a threat. The center is encouraging those who haven't already to get flu vaccinations.

"You want to get it while there's a little lull to where there's not as many reports, and not as many cases. It gives you a chance of being protected," said General Clinic Supervisor Beverly Coleman.

Coleman says far fewer people have gotten their flu shots this year compared to last year. It happens as some clinics remain busy with flu cases.

"We probably see from 40 to 60 (cases), and even higher, per week," Sarna said.

Sarna says cases of the flu could increase even more in March. He says vaccinations are still available and there's still time for a shot.

"This is not too late because we'll probably see one more peak of the influenza virus," Sarna said.

And many are hoping others will be prepared for it.

Texarkana Bowie County Family Health Center is providing flu shots Monday through Thursday from 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.

There is no charge for those with Medicare Part-B or Texas Medicaid.

HealthCARE Express has flu shots available for $25.
http://arklatexhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=158336

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www.twitter.com/hniman

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14053319

TYLER, TX (KLTV) – East Texas hospital emergency rooms have been slammed with an unusual amount of patients for weeks. Some ERs have had to divert patients to other hospitals.

Janise Robinson is one of many East Texans filling up ER rooms, "I'm in misery."

"I came by ambulance. They told me it was a four-hour wait in the ER. I couldn't sit up for four hours," says Robinson.

Dr. Ryan Menard says his ER staff has been slammed for weeks. He says most patients have flu-like symptoms, he's also seen several bronchitis cases, "We're seeing a very high amount of the winter illnesses."

Doctors say other ERs in the area are so overloaded, patients are actually being diverted to the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.

"We're seeing a lot of patients diverted here," Menard says, "Part of it's a problem inside the hospital itself and there's no room to put patients sometimes emergency rooms will have to divert."

ETMC says they diverted patents for three hours on Wednesday. Maxxed out ERs mean longer wait times.

Robinson says "The ambulance driver told me that he's taken patients to Mother Frances and set them up in the waiting room. They're not letting them in the ER.

As doctors scramble to stay afloat, more patients are rushed in by ambulance.

Dr. Menard says it's a sign that this isn't slowing down.

Doctors say if you have flu-like symptoms, the best place to be treated is a clinic or your family doctor—not the emergency room.

One of the teachers at the gym where my kids take gymnastics is out with flu, as well as her ~6 week old daughter. No word on what type.

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I am not a doctor, virologist, or any of type of medical/life sciences professional.

I am a layman with a background in the physical sciences.

I am posting this in Texas instead of Wisconsin because of this statement:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/art ... -Brown-Co-




I hope he's is right, because if google flu trends for Texas is any indication, Texas is at a high point for the season and it looks like it is trending up.

http://www.google.org/flutrends/us/#US-TX

Lots of respiratory problems going around. Most of the people in my wife's office have been sick lately, my wife has been sick for a few days, but she has not really run fever, and in general it doesn't seem very flu-like, more like a sinus infection or what is colloquially known around here as the "Houston Crud."

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I am not a doctor, virologist, or any of type of medical/life sciences professional.

I am a layman with a background in the physical sciences.

This is a common media perception because most of the flu seen in the U.S. has been Flu B and H3N2. Both of those strains do seem to have peaked in the south. This gives an overall impression of some states being past peak, like Texas (see their Week 6 %ILI Chart below). However, if you look at the isolates data from Week 6, pH1N1 represents less than a sixth of the total positive samples, but it has been increasing steadily since Week 2, as follows:

Week - # isolates positive for pH1N1

Week 52 - 1
Week 2 - 7
Week 3 - 18
Week 4 - 15
Week 5 - 40
Week 6 - 44

Note on the isolates table from Week 6 that there were twice as many H3N2 isolates and more Flu B than pH1N1 (although total positive Flu A exceeded Flu B by 2 to 1). So, although some people think that states like Texas are past peak, I believe they will experience either a double peak (one seasonal and one pH1n1), or a more protracted "peak" without a distinct apex, as seasonal strains decline and pH1N1 increases. States like NC are well into this pattern.

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I used to think I had to understand in order to believe, but then I realized that I had to believe in order to understand. - Augustine

His photo is at the link. Struck me as looking like a kid in the peak of health..good looking, strong ....

http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=14086614

Shreveport, LA(KSLA)- An E. Texas boy from Harrison County died Tuesday evening after he developed complications from the H1N1 virus also known as the Swine Flu.

Family and friends tell KSLA News 12 the boy seemed fine just a few days before they had to take him LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport for treatment.

Trenton Lindsey, was a student at Elysian Fields Middle School. He also played basketball.

School officials say that Wednesday has been a very difficult day for their students and staff.

State Health officials say the boy actually died from pneumonia, but it was a complication from the H1N1 Virus.

"A lot of people are very concerned, and we wanted to use this sad situation to tell people that the flu is still very active right now. We're at very high activity," says Martha Whyte from the Office Of Public Health.

Health officials say both seasonal and H1N1 flu are prevalent in the area, so they encourage anyone who has not had a vaccination to get one.

A Facebook page has already been set up in Trenton's honor. You could leave your condolences by going to: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/RIP-Tr ... 0449435962

Visitation and funeral dates have been set for young Trenton.

Visitation will be held on Friday night from 7-9 pm at Downs Funeral Home.