KHI NEWS STAFF
TOPEKA, Feb. 26
Seasonal influenza cases are “widespread” across the state, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control, but it”s been a typical Kansas flu season so far, state health officials said today.
No precise numbers are available for how many cases Kansas has experienced this season
because influenza is not a reportable disease, said Mike Heideman, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
But the
CDC uses a variety of estimates and local reports to create its weekly national update on influenza activity, including reports from health care providers who act as “sentinels.”
According to CDC, Kansas is among the harder hit states in the nation. CDC reports that flu is widespread in 24 states, including Kansas and all the Plains states.
The illness typically peaks here in January and February across the state, Heideman said, and this year is no different.
“It”s fair to characterize this as a standard year in terms of overall activity level,” he said.
Three Kansans, all older than age 65, have died from influenza this season, Heideman said. Kansas is one of 24 states with the “widespread” designation.
The KDHE and CDC continue to remind people to take steps to prevent spreading and contracting the illness. Those steps include frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes and
for those who haven”t
receiving the influenza vaccine, Heideman said.
According to the CDC, about 5 to 20 percent of the United State”s population comes down with seasonal influenza every year. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and about 36,000 people die from the flu.