Flu outbreak affects many areas of the community

     You can’t turn on the local Iowa news or the national news right now without hearing about how widespread influenza (the flu) is throughout the country.

     According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), the flu is considered widespread throughout the entire continental U.S. with the exception of the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and the U.S. territory of Guam. It’s safe to say no matter where you live right now in the country, the flu is in your backyard.

     In the State of Iowa, the IDPH (Iowa Department of Public Health) states that the flu continues to increase here.

     Every week, the IDPH publishes an update on flu-like activity throughout the state. For the week ending Jan. 13, 95 influenza A (H3) cases were confirmed, four influenza A (H1N1) cases, and 21 influenza B cases. There were 119 influenza-related hospitalizations reported from hospitals. This flu season in Iowa, there has been a total of 29 influenza-related deaths.

     So many sectors of a community, including Jones County and specifically Monticello, have been impacted by the flu: schools, workplaces, hospitals and doctors offices, nursing homes, etc.

     Jenna Lovaas, Jones County Public Health, acts as a resource for all these various entities, providing information and support in cases like this.

     “I also encourage people to get the flu vaccine if they haven’t already,” she said.

     So why have so many people who have received the flu vaccine (flu shot) been impacted this season? Lovaas said the flu virus is constantly changing.

     “That’s why people need a new vaccine every year,” she said.

     Lovaas explained every year when the CDC develops the flu vaccine, “they have to make an educated guess based on the data they have” concerning the strains of influenza the vaccine covers.

     “Because of that, in some years the vaccine offers more protection against the flu than in other years,” added Lovaas.

     Case in point: This flu season. Shannon Frink RN, EHR specialist, informaticist, and infection preventionist with Jones Regional Medical, said the hospital is seeing more and more patients come in and testing positive with Influenza A and B.

     “The vaccine generally covers the four most common strains,” said Frink. She explained scientists do the research into what strains to ward off against before flu season even hits, and that’s what the flu vaccine tends to cover.

     “It’s not as effective for A and B,” added Frink.

     Lovaas shared that last year, the flu vaccine in the U.S. showed a 40 percent effective rate overall, and 32 percent effective against the primary strain of the flu seen this season.

     “No vaccine is 100 percent effective, but even with vaccine effectiveness in the range of 30-60 percent, flu vaccination prevents millions of illnesses and tens of thousands of flu-related hospitalizations each year,” Lovaas said.

     She said stats from the IDPH show that more Iowans received the flu shot this year compared to past seasons.

     Frink shared that JRMC has seen an increase in patients with flu-like symptoms in the ED (emergency department), urgent care and in-patient than previous flu seasons.

     Flu season for JRMC started in November with three positive tests.

     “That’s pretty typical,” she said. “We tend to see sporadic activity in November.”

     Due to the widespread flu, JRMC has had to implement visitor limitations until further notice.  Visitors are limited to two adults (18 years or older) per patient, unless under special circumstances. Children are not allowed to visit patients at this time.

     “These precautions are for the safety of our hospitalized patients and our team members,” a press release stated.

     Frink, who contracted Influenza B herself and was out for the count for about a week, said those most at risk are the elderly and younger children, as well as pregnant women and those with compromised immune system (cancer patients). Lovaas said that throughout Iowa, those 64 years of age and older have been hit the hardest by the flu.

     “January has been a particularly bad month, with the greatest number of hospitalizations so far this season,” Lovaas shared.

     “But the flu can even affect healthy people,” Frink added.

     Those who have needed in-patient/overnight care at JRMC are found to be severely sick and/or dehydrated, Frink said.

     “We’ve seen some people who just can’t fight it,” she said.

     She explained that the flu is a virus and just has to run its course before someone starts to feel better.

     “That could take up to 14 days in some cases,” Frink offered. Medications such a Tamiflu are common to take, but Frink said they simply shorten the duration one might have the flu or lessen the severity of the symptoms.

     “You still have the flu,” she said. “You just might have a runny nose or cough.”

     Despite one’s symptoms, Frink encourages people to stay away from outside contact until you’re 100 percent better and symptom-free for up to 24 hours. In fact, when Frink returned to work after her bout with the flu, she continued to wear a facemask to ward off anything from potentially spreading to her patients and co-workers.

     “Even droplets from sneezing or coughing can spread,” she said.

     To stay on the healthy side or to avoid affecting others, both Lovass and Frink offered some pieces of advice:

     • Cover your mouth when coughing either into your hand/elbow or a tissue.

     • Wash your hands frequently.

     • Contain any germs by staying home when sick. Frink said if you know you have a fever, stay away from outside contact.

     For those who have not had the flu shot, Frink said it is not too late.

     “We recommend everyone have the flu shot, and mid-season is not too late,” she said. While it takes two weeks to become effective, she said it’s still effective for the current flu season.

     “It’s herd immunity,” she said. “The more people who are vaccinated, the less people will get sick.”

     Lovaas said the peak of flu season has not hit yet, meaning it’s likely to hang on for a while.

     “Influenza was classified as widespread in the state beginning in the last week of December,” she said. “So we expect illness and possible hospitalizations to increase until we reach peak flu season.”

How are local school districts impacted?

     Schools all over the country are reporting high numbers of absences due to students and faculty out with the flu. Fortunately, for the Monticello school community, they are seeing normal absentee rates at each of their buildings.

     Jennifer Speltz, one of the MCSD’s nurses, said they’ve seen a few cases of flu-like illnesses at each building, “which is typical for this time of year.

     “Just a few staff members have had symptoms,” she added.

     Some of those confirmed cases have also tested positive for Influenza A and B. Superintendent Brian Jaeger said they started seeing students with flu-like symptoms before the holiday break, and it has continued.

     “We are not seeing the high volume of cases as reported in other areas of the country,” Jaeger said.

     The schools do not have to report absences to the IDPH until they reach over 10 percent of the total number of students out in any building with similar symptoms. Again, luckily the MCSD has not had to report such figures.

     “So far we are seeing a very comparable amount of students out to previous years,” offered Speltz.

     The schools are monitoring the situation on a daily basis, and are being proactive by hiring extra custodial staff to help with a deep cleaning of high-traffic areas each day after school. Doors, lockers, desks, tables, handrails, bathrooms, water fountains, and school buses “will be given special attention each day to minimize the spread of germs in the schools,” encouraged Jaeger.

     Both Speltz and Jaeger asked that students and staff with the flu be fever and symptom-free without the use of medication for at least 24 hours before returning.

     “You can spread those germs to other people,” said Speltz. “If you have a fever, body aches, severe headache, or cough, please stay home until those symptoms resolve. It is not recommended to go into public places.”

How are the elderly impacted?

     Laurissa Martin, administrator at Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, said they have not seen a rise in residents contracting the flu so far this season. And unlike hospitals and nursing homes and care centers throughout Iowa, MNRC has not had to reduce visitors.

     “We are not under quarantine like past years,” said Martin. “But we do discourage anyone who is sick or with flu symptoms. It’s still early on in the flu season, and with the elderly population, it takes nothing to get sick.”

     All employees and residents at MNRC are highly encouraged to get the flu shot. Martin said their in-house director of nursing heads up the flu shot program and administers the immunizations with the nursing staff.

     “We typically start in late-October and early-November,” said Martin. “Most everyone takes us up on the offer.”

     Martin said they hope between supplying the flu vaccine and staying proactive this season, they won’t see an increase in residents coming down with the flu.

     “It’s been sporadic,” she said of a few residents testing positive, though Martin said nothing out of the ordinary for this time of the year.

     “We’re staying ahead of it and watching everyone’s symptoms,” Martin added.

     Above & Beyond Home Health and Hospice in Monticello works with the elderly population on a daily basis. Owner Becky Cooper said they have seen an increase in patients coming down with the flu, more so on the hospice side of the business versus home health.

     “Many nursing facilities are not allowing visitors and asking that all healthcare workers use extra precautions,” she said.

     Much like the advice given from Frink and Lovaas, Cooper said their employees are encouraged to wash their hands repeatedly. Above & Beyond also requires their employees to be vaccinated against the flu, “unless contraindicated by a physician.”

     Cooper said a few of her employees have been out with the flu so far.

     “We ask that they not come back to work until symptom-free to prevent the spread as much as possible,” she said. You can never be too careful when working with a high-risk population. Cooper said healthcare workers are exposed to more illnesses than the average person, and many times are carriers themselves. This is why good hygiene is a must.

     “Stay home if you are sick. Stay home even if you’re not sick,” encouraged Cooper. “Exposure is limited if our clients are not out and about. At a minimum, avoid large crowds.”

     For everyone, it all comes down to being vaccinated.

     “The need for the vaccinations for everyone is important,” urged Cooper, “even with the low effectiveness this year. If the virus is contracted, the symptoms could be far less severe for those that received the vaccine, as well as good nutrition and hydration.”

Seek medical attention

     Shannon Frink with JRMC said if you feel sick, please come to urgent care versus the ER (emergency room).

     “We’re trying to get people not to come to the ER unless they truly need ER services,” she said. “Urgent care and your doctor can test you for the flu.”

     She said coming to the ER could make you or others even sicker.

     Urgent care at JRMC is open seven days a week: Monday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.