Flu season has officially begun in Kansas. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, a patient in the northeast part of the state has the first confirmed case of influenza in Kansas this season. The case was identified through the ILINet, a system of clinics that KDHE uses to monitor outpatients who exhibit influenza-like symptoms.
“The arrival of our first confirmed influenza case of the season serves as an important reminder for everyone to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their loved ones and the community,” said Dr. Robert Moser, KDHE secretary. “Influenza is a preventable illness. Normally, the number of cases increases during the holidays before peaking around February.”
Influenza vaccine is recommended for nearly everyone 6 months of age and older. Infants less than 6 months of age are too young to be vaccinated and are more vulnerable to the complications from influenza. Being vaccinated against influenza is especially important for anyone at high risk of complications and for anyone who is caring for children younger than 5 years. It is also important for people caring for those with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications.
KDHE spokeswoman Sara Belfry said it’s best to get the shot while flu activity is still sporadic.
“Make sure if you are sick, you’re covering your coughs and sneezes, you’re washing your hands,” she said. “Staying home when you’re sick is really the biggest piece of advice I can give people.”
Symptoms of influenza include fever, dry cough, extreme tiredness and muscle aches. Complications can include pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, and dehydration; influenza may also worsen other chronic conditions.
While the handful of Ebola cases in the U.S. has received more publicity, Belfry said flu is a much bigger threat.
“Flu is definitely more prevalent in the United States and in Kansas than Ebola is,” she said. “Last year alone, influenza or pneumonia contributed or was the direct cause of 1,373 deaths in Kansas. It was the seventh-leading cause of death in 2013 in Kansas, as well.”
Depending on the severity of the influenza season, 5 percent to 20 percent of the population may get influenza each year. During the peak of the 2013-2014 influenza season in Kansas, approximately 6 percent of all health care visits in ILINet clinics were due to influenza-like illness.
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