Indiana flu season ramping up rapidly
INDIANAPOLIS — Flu cases in Indiana are multiplying more quickly than normal, and three people across the state have died from the disease, according to Indiana health officials.
Influenza activity had been near average until recently but cases in the third week of flu season were as numerous as they normally would be in the fifth week, epidemiologist Shawn Richards of the Indiana State Department of Health said.
"That's telling me we have kind of a jump-start on the flu season, and it happened relatively fast," Richards said.
Flu normally peaks in the eighth week of the season, around the end of February, Richards said.
Three people in Indiana have died of the flu this season — all of them older than 50, which is typical, The Indianapolis Star reported Friday. Two of the people who died had the swine flu strain responsible for the worldwide pandemic a year ago, and none had been vaccinated, officials said.
Multiple strains of the bug are circulating, health officials said, and this year's vaccine offers some protection against most. Richards said the most common strain a few weeks ago was influenza B, but now it's swine flu.
Some people who have tested positive for flu say they were vaccinated, Richards said.
Hospitals also reported treating more patients with flu-like symptoms recently.
"We're seeing a higher number of people coming to the emergency room and a higher number of people testing positive in the last week to 10 days," said Sally Young of Community Health Network.
Clarian hospitals have seen dozens of confirmed flu cases, said Dr. Douglas Webb, medical director for infection control at Methodist Hospital.
Most people can be treated on an outpatient basis.
Health officials are encouraging people who have not had a flu shot to get one, even though the flu season is well under way. The best ways to avoid the flu are to wash your hands frequently, cover your coughs and sneezes and to stay home if you're ill.
The flu isn't the only virus around. Clarian labs have confirmed several that might be mistaken for flu, Webb said.