Flu activity surges in area

Dr. Michael Tawney said McLaren Port Huron has been busy with flu patients.

"We’ve had a pretty significant uptick in the flu activity over the past two weeks," said the hospital's medical director. "Since November, we’ve had 90 positive flu tests at the hospital here.

"There certainly are a lot of cases out there. The big surge has taken place in the last two weeks, so we are in the thick of it."

Flu is widespread in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Widespread influenza activity has been reported in 49 states, including Michigan. The number of influenza deaths in the week ending Dec. 23 in the CDC's Region 5, which includes Michigan, was 39.

Jennifer Michaluk, director of health education and planning and a spokeswoman for the St. Clair County Health Department, said in an email that the number of flu cases in the county "is not something we can easily quantify as flu is not reportable except under certain circumstances. 

"We do know that the flu is now widespread in almost all of the United States and the numbers of influenza-like illness continues to rise."

Lynn Sutfin, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in an email that "this level of influenza activity is being seen earlier than last year (2016-2017 season).

"Influenza viruses circulate year round with varying levels of activity," she said. "Though each year is different, the traditional ‘influenza season’ typically sees increased activity fall somewhere between October and May. We are currently experiencing Widespread Activity (the highest level), like most other states in the U.S."

Complicating the flu season? There is more than one strain of influenza being seen in the United States.

"Like most seasons, influenza A/H3, influenza A/H1 and influenza B are all circulating at varying levels.." Sutfin said in her email. "During the 2017-2018 season in Michigan, the predominate virus circulating is influenza A/H3. Influenza B has been circulating at lower but steady levels all season and has been detected more frequently in recent weeks. Influenza A/H1 detections have been rare in the state for the 2017-2018 season."

Dr. Tawney said the influenza vaccine targeted four strains of the illness.

"There are four different strains of flu that are put into this single vaccination shot in hopes we hit what's out there," he said.

"They try to lay their best guess on what strains they are going to have," he said. "Unfortunately, this year we were not very successful in hitting (the strain)."

He said people should still receive the flu vaccine.

"You're much better off than not getting it, but the strains that were in the flu vaccine this year are not necessarily the strains we are being faced with," he said.

All hospital employees received the vaccine, he said.

"It can be given and still will be of benefit ..." Dr. Tawney said. "You can get a flu vaccine up until April and still have some positive effect but the earlier the better."

Sutfin said a flu shot is the best defense against "seasonal influenza, though its effectiveness does vary from season-to-season. This depends on a lot of factors, like strain selection, circulating viruses, etc. Vaccine effectiveness estimates are calculated by CDC throughout the flu season, with final estimates typically becoming available in the latter half of a flu season."

Michaluk said it's not too late to get a flu shot.

"It is recommended in October and November, however, it is still available and highly recommended as flu season can peak in the winter months and can last into April or May," she said in her email. "It is best to get vaccinated before the flu begins spreading in your community, because it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against flu.

"Flu is very unpredictable so it’s important to get vaccinated and practice good prevention methods (good hand washing, covering your cough, staying home when you are sick, etc.)," she said.

12-year-old dies after developing flu-like symptoms

She said the health department has walk-in vaccination clinics from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays or by appointment Tuesday through Friday. Many pharmacies also have the vaccine.

The health department is at 3415 28th St., Port Huron. Call the health department main line at (810) 987-5300.

“While flu vaccine can vary in how well it works, it is the best way to prevent flu illness and serious flu complications, including those that can result in hospitalization," said Dr. Annette Mercatante, county medical health officer, in a statement.

"We cannot know which flu viruses will circulate over the season and which flu virus will predominate," she said. "Flu vaccines protect against three or four different flu viruses, depending on which vaccine you get.  Getting vaccinated also protects people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions."

Dr. Tawney said people sometimes under-estimate how serious the flu can be. The influenza pandemic of 1918-19, for example, caused an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide and is believed to have infected one-third of the world's population at the time.

"We’re going to wait and see how this one plays out," he said. "The flu always is potentially a fatal illness, and the more frail people are susceptible."

Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobertGross477.