The Alabama Department of Public Health is urging healthy habits this holiday season due to a spike in flu cases. The trend of flu cases is on the rise and shows no signs of slowing down.
According to Dr. Wes Stubblefield, the medical officer with the ADPH, the CDC has classified the current level of flu as high, just below the highest level of “very high.”
According to Dr. Stubblefield, the number of patients seeking medical attention in the emergency department due to influenza is on the rise statewide.
According to Stubblefield, the flu can manifest in different ways for different individuals. While fever and cough are the most common symptoms, muscle aches can also occur. It is worth noting that some individuals may experience milder cases of the flu, especially if they have been vaccinated.
Dr. Beth Weaver, a physician at AllSouth Urgent Care in Dothan, Alabama, has noticed a significant increase in respiratory illnesses lately. She attributes this rise to the recent gatherings, where people are hugging, laughing, singing in choirs, and socializing. According to Dr. Weaver, there has been a noticeable uptick in the number of cases of both flu and COVID-19 over the past week and a half to two weeks.
According to Weaver, the impact of this can vary from patient to patient.
She expressed her concern about the potential consequences of not being cautious around others who may contract the virus. In particular, she emphasized the vulnerability of grandparents, the elderly, and individuals in other situations.
According to Dr. Stubblefield, individuals in the high-risk category include young children and those with heart conditions. He emphasizes the importance of being mindful of those around you and highlights that it is never too late to receive the vaccine.
According to Stubblefield, it is important to prioritize staying at home when feeling unwell and practicing good respiratory etiquette. This includes coughing into your elbow and maintaining clean hands as preventive measures.
Currently, according to Stubblefield, cases of influenza A are more prevalent than cases of influenza B.
In 2023, the illness reached its highest point at the beginning of the year. However, it remains uncertain if a similar peak will occur this year, given the ongoing increase in cases.
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