A recent surge of Flu in Georgia sparks concerns
Flu in Georgia is on the rise as we approach Christmas week, as indicated by the most recent data from the Georgia Department of Public Health released on Friday. The level of flu activity in Georgia has reached a “very high” status, according to the DPH. The latest report of flu in Georgia for the week ending December 16, reveals that 7.6% of all doctor visits are attributed to flu-like symptoms. This data is based on individuals seeking medical attention for symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat, which may encompass cases related to other viruses, including the flu, COVID, or RSV.
Surveillance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the same week identifies Georgia and eight other states with a “very high” number of respiratory illnesses, while an additional 14 states fall into the “high” category. Although there has been an increase in COVID numbers in recent weeks, they do not reach the levels observed in previous years.
The latest report highlights a sharp surge in activity of flu in Georgia during the current week, surpassing the levels seen in the same week over the past four years. The unpredictable nature of the flu makes it uncertain whether it will escalate, similar to the 2019-2020 season, or decline steadily as observed last year.
Since the commencement of the flu season in October, the most recent data available (up to December 15) indicates that 762 individuals have been hospitalized in the eight-county metro Atlanta region (Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, Douglas, Gwinnett, Rockdale, and Newton). This is notably lower than the 1,645 hospitalizations recorded during the same period last year. Eight Georgians, including a child aged 5 to 17, have succumbed to complications from the flu since the start of the season, a figure lower than the 33 deaths reported by this time last year.
Healthcare professionals unanimously advocate vaccination and staying home when sick as the best measures to prevent the spread of both flu and COVID. Additional precautions include frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with sick individuals.
The CDC recommends a minimum isolation period of five days for individuals testing positive for COVID. For the subsequent 10 days, individuals should wear a high-quality mask like a KN95 when in the company of others. Dr. Luke Lathrop, Chief Medical Officer at SmartMED Drive-Thru Medical Care in Roswell, advises those with holiday gatherings within the initial five days of testing positive to stay home, emphasizing the potential impact on loved ones.
This year marks the first time that vaccines are available for all three circulating viruses – flu, COVID, and RSV. Dr. Jayne Morgan, Executive Director of Health and Community Education for Piedmont Healthcare, underscores that COVID remains the virus causing the most hospitalizations and deaths. She urges an urgent increase in vaccinations, noting a rise in hospitalizations for these viruses nationwide. Simultaneously, doctors observe an uptick in other illnesses, particularly strep throat and pneumonia in children.
Dr. Morgan emphasizes that vaccinations against the three major respiratory illnesses can help lower the risk of other infections. Infection with these viruses weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to additional respiratory infections. While it is optimal to receive the flu shot by the end of October, experts, including the CDC, emphasize that getting the vaccine late is preferable to skipping it entirely.
