Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?secti ... id=7923837

Joe Geer’s 66-year old wife Judie was unable to get a flu shot because she had a compromised immune system. Sadly, she became one of two flu-related deaths in North Carolina in the past week.

Judie had been undergoing treatment for MDS, a blood disorder similar to leukemia that affects blood cell production in the bone marrow. She became ill shortly after her most recent treatment cycle.

“Her temperature spiked up to 102.9, and so they said we better put you in the hospital,” Geer said. “They started running a battery of tests and by the fourth day, they finally determined that it was in fact the flu.”

Judie died on Tuesday.

http://www.reflector.com/news/flu-seaso ... nts-260193

Flu seasons hits ECU students

More than 100 ECU students have contracted influenza or flu-like illnesses since students retuirned to campus on Jan. 2, but officials aren't worried yet.

The majority of cases have been confirmed as the H1N1 virus, Jolene Jernigan, director of East Carolina University Student Health Services, said Thursday.

ECU, which serves as a surveillance site for the state, has had enough confirmed cases that samples sent to Raleigh for research are now limited to students who had a flu shot but got sick anyway.

Influenza-like illnesses are up in North Carolina with a 2 percent increase in outpatient visits confirmed to have flu-like symptoms.

According to a report by North Carolina Public Health, the state saw a spike between Jan. 15 and Jan 22, with doctor visits involving influenza illnesses rising from 2.57 to 4.33 percent.

The State Laboratory of Public Health identified 56 positive influenza results during the week ending Jan. 22 among 97 flu specimens tested.

Gaston County Health Department Public Information Officer Shannon Club said the flu “appears to be widespread” throughout Gaston County.

“When we start to hear about clusters or spikes in diseases, we’ll call around and get oriented,” Clubb said. “Based on what we have heard so far from doctors’ offices, we are seeing it pretty widespread at this time.”

The rampant illness is taking its toll throughout the state and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North Carolina’s influenza-like illness activity level is listed as high.

“North Carolina has widespread flu – that’s the highest (level) you can get,” CDC spokesman Jeff Dimond said. “There’s flu in every county in the state.”

Dimond said influenza-like illnesses are rampant throughout the country and the most important thing people can do now is get a flu shot.

“Now that it’s widespread in North Carolina, I would suggest the urgency to get a shot has risen somewhat,” he said.

According to Dimond, there is a gray area between the time you are vaccinated and the time protection kicks in.

“From the time you get a shot until the time you get protected is two weeks,” he said. “There are three different strains of flu and they’re all going to make you feel rotten.”

Dimond said the shot is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age and if you’re sick, stay home.

“Don’t show your class or boss how tough you are,” he said. “Once your symptoms stop, you’re still contagious for 24 hours.”

Clubb said people need to break the bad habit of sneezing into their hands.

“We’re taught as a kid to cover sneeze with hands – but you need to sneeze into your sleeve,” she said.

She said the health department still has shots available and flu season typically lasts until March.

“Unlike last year, this year the shot’s combined into one vaccine,” Clubb said. “You only need one shot now because this year, the H1N1 is built into the regular flu vaccine.”

Many think warmer weather will bring flu relief but Clubb begs to differ.

“Flu can be active in warmer months. There isn’t necessarily less illness in warmer weather,” she said. “The reason you see less is because people are inside less and you’re not passing sickness around.”

Wade Allen can be reached at 704-869-1828.

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/flu-5 ... h-jan.html

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Because rates of influenza have risen sharply statewide and locally, Transylvania Regional Hospital is asking people to limit their visits to patients in the hospital to just next of kin or the patient’s closest friend.


Visitors are also asked not to bring teenagers and children to Transylvania Regional Hospital.

As always, visitors are urged to wash or sanitize their hands before and after visiting patients and entering or leaving the hospital. Hand sanitizing stations and dispensers are located throughout the hospital
As of Thursday, Transylvania Regional Hospital had seen several confirmed cases of influenza. These numbers are typical at this time of year. No cases of H1N1 have been confirmed locally as of January 27.

“We have had an increase in flu at TRH,” said Jamie Staton, RN, TRH’s infection control practitioner. “We’ve had eight positive cases since Oct. 1—five of those were just last week.”
Rates of flu typically peak during February. People who have not yet gotten the influenza vaccine are urged to do so immediately, and to ensure that their children have been vaccinated. The first influenza death of 2011 in North Carolina was a 15-year-old who had not received the vaccine.
It is common for hospitals to limit visitation during flu season. Mission Hospital in Asheville and other hospitals in the region have already limited visitation this year.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20 ... nav%7Chead

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The number of patients complaining of flu-like symptoms has spiked in hospital emergency rooms across the Triangle in recent weeks.

At WakeMed in Raleigh, for example, emergency room physicians treated about 300 people last month for flu, compared with 32 in December.

Dr. Robert Park said the the number is soaring because many people have skipped getting a flu shot this season after worries about the H1N1 flu virus prompted more people to get vaccinated a year ago.

"Last year, there was no flu really, no major flu season," Park said. "This year, it's come back with vengeance."

Asi Jackson said he simply didn't think about getting a flu shot.

Sharon Evans, meanwhile, said she makes a point of getting a shot every year.

"The last time I had the flu, I thought I was absolutely going to die, and I didn't want to get it again," Evans said.

A flu shot is needed annually because the flu strains usually change from one year to the next, Park said.

For symptoms like fever, chills and body aches, he recommended that people see their primary care physician first and then head to the ER if the symptoms become worse.

"If you start having horrible symptoms like dizziness, passing out, difficulty breathing – red-flag symptoms that something's not right – then absolutely, you should be seen," he said.

Otherwise, he said, getting plenty of rest and fluids and taking Motrin or Tylenol for the aches and fever are the best treatments for the flu.
http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/healthte ... y/9099532/

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http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/gcdc/flu1011.html

North Carolina reports 3 new deaths in Week 6 (including 2 pediatric) and a total of 14 for the season (which means one additional death from a prior week was reported. NC currently reports all confirmed flu deaths. During the 2009-10 season, approximately 12% of all reported deaths were children. With 6 out of 14 being children, that is 43% - well above the average. I know the sample size is small in comparison, but the 5-18 age group seems to be the most affected this year by multiple strains.

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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

Another unsubtypable isolate (in Guilford County in week 5)

http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/gcdc/flu ... s1011.html

Week
Number Ending Total Confirmed County Virus Type No. Isolates of Same Virus
40 10/9/2010 0 N/A N/A 0
41 10/16/2010 0 N/A N/A 0
42 10/23/2010 0 N/A N/A 0
43 10/30/2010 0 N/A N/A 0
44 11/6/2010 0 N/A N/A 0
45 11/13/2010 1 Wake A (H3) 1
46 11/20/2010 2 Mitchell B 2
Union B 1
47 11/27/2010 3 Johnston B 1
Stanly A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Yancey A (H3) 1
48 12/4/2010 7 Durham A (H3) 3
Durham B 1
Johnston B 1
Mecklenburg B 1
Unknown B 1
49 12/11/2010 4 Lenoir A (H3) 1
Union B 3
50 12/18/2010 2 Madison A (H3) 1
Mecklenburg B 1
51 12/25/2010 6 Durham B 1
Haywood A (H3) 1
Martin A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Rowan B 1
Union B 2
52 1/1/2011 8 Buncombe A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Buncombe A (H3) 1
Burke A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Madison B 1
Union A (H3) 1
Wake A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Wake A (H3) 1
Wayne A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
01 1/8/2011 15 Buncombe A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Buncombe B 1
Hertford A (H3) 1
Johnston B 1
Lee A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Lenoir A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Mitchell A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
New Hanover A (H3) 1
Orange A (H3) 1
Pitt A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Union A (H3) 1
Union B 1
Unknown A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Unknown B 1
Wake A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Wilson A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
02 1/15/2011 65 Alamance A (H3) 1
Beaufort A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Beaufort A (H3) 2
Buncombe A (H3) 1
Craven A (H3) 1
Duplin A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Durham A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Durham B 1
Forsyth B 4
Franklin A (H1N1) Pandemic 3
Guilford A (H3) 1
Haywood A (H3) 1
Haywood B 1
Johnston B 2
Lee B 1
Mecklenburg B 1
Mitchell B 1
Nash B 1
Pitt A (H1N1) Pandemic 7
Rowan B 1
Stanly B 1
Union B 2
Unknown A (H1N1) Pandemic 3
Wake A (unsubtypable) 1
Wake A (H1N1) Pandemic 11
Wake A (H3) 2
Wake B 5
Watauga A (H1N1) Pandemic 3
Watauga A (H3) 2
Wilson A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
03 1/22/2011 58 Beaufort A (H1N1) Pandemic 3
Brunswick A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Duplin A (H3) 1
Durham B 1
Forsyth A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Forsyth B 2
Guilford A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Halifax A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Henderson B 1
Martin A(H3) 2
Mecklenburg A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Mecklenburg B 3
Mitchell A(H3) 1
Mitchell B 2
Nash A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Orange A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Pitt A (H1N1) Pandemic 10
Pitt A(H3) 2
Pitt B 2
Union B 1
Unknown A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Unknown B 1
Wake A (H1N1) Pandemic 6
Watauga A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Watauga A(H3) 1
Watauga B 3
Wilkes A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Yadkin A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Yancey A(H3) 1
04 1/29/2011 58 Buncombe A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Cabarrus B 1
Duplin A (H3) 1
Duplin B 2
Durham A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Durham A (H3) 1
Forsyth B 5
Franklin B 3
Granville B 1
Guilford A (H1N1) Pandemic 3
Guilford B 3
Henderson A (H3) 2
Johnston A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Mecklenburg A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Mecklenburg B 2
Mitchell A (H3) 1
Mitchell B 2
Orange A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Orange B 1
Pitt A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Robeson A (H3) 2
Scotland A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Stanly B 1
Union B 1
Unknown A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Unknown A (H3) 2
Unknown B 1
Wake A (H1N1) Pandemic 5
Watauga A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Watauga B 3
Wilkes A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Yancey A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Yancey B 1
05 2/5/2011 88 Alamance A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Alamance A (H3) 1
Alamance B 1
Avery A (H3) 1
Beaufort A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Beaufort A (H3) 1
Bertie A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Cabarrus B 3
Chatham A (H3) 1
Cumberland A (H3) 1
Duplin B 2
Durham B 1
Forsyth A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Forsyth B 2
Franklin A (H1N1) Pandemic 3
Franklin B 1
Granville B 1
Guilford A (unsubtypable) 1
Guilford A (H1N1) Pandemic 9
Guilford B 3
Martin A (H1N1) Pandemic 3
Martin B 1
Mecklenburg B 2
Mitchell B 4
Orange A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Orange B 1
Pender A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Richmond A (H1N1) Pandemic 3
Rowan A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Rowan A (H3) 1
Rowan B 11
Stanly A (H1N1) Pandemic 2
Stokes A (H1N1) Pandemic 1
Stokes B 1
Union B 1
Unknown A (H3) 1
Wake A (H1N1) Pandemic 4
Wake A (H3) 2
Wake B 2
Washington A (H3) 1
Watauga A (H1N1) Pandemic 3
Watauga B 2
Wilkes A (H3) 1
Yancey B 1
TOTAL ISOLATES IDENTIFIED TO DATE* A (unsubtypable) 2
A/H1 0
A (H1N1) Pandemic 139
A/H3 54
B 124
Total 319

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18 flu deaths - 14 in previous posting

http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2011/feb/22/ ... ar-803766/

RALEIGH, N.C. --

Officials at the N.C. Division of Public Health continue to remind residents that flu activity remains high statewide and vaccines are still available.

Julie Henry, Public Information Officer for the Division of Public Health, says a total 18 deaths have been linked to the flu, at least six of those are children.

The majority of flu deaths have been in individuals who were not vaccinated.

Hospital emergency room visits due to flu have also increased, while outpatient visits have declined.

"It's not too late for a flu vaccination to be effective, and there is still plenty of vaccine available," said State Health Director Jeff Engel.

http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/gcdc/flu1011.html

North Carolina is reporting no new deaths in Week 8, but added four deaths to the total from previous weeks, including one pediatric death. Eight of the 22 deaths reported are pediatric deaths.

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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