Flu season starts fast along Front Range

DENVER – Colorado has experienced a steady increase in the number of flu-related hospitalizations and visits to healthcare providers’ offices for influenza-like illness for the past four weeks, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s influenza tracking system.

The metro-area and Front Range recorded the greatest number of flu-related hospital admissions, although increased flu activity has been occurring throughout

the state. From the first week of September, the start of the 2009-2010 flu tracking season, through the week ending September 19, there were 171 flu-related hospital admissions reported to the state health department.

Nearly all the current influenza viruses detected by the department’s laboratory are the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) strain, but that could change as the flu season continues and if seasonal flu strains re-emerge, according to the state health agency.

Ken Gershman, who heads the agency’s Communicable Disease Program and flu tracking activities, said it is impossible to track all individuals with influenza-like illnesses because there are far too many cases, most flu sufferers do not seek a doctor’s care and even fewer are ever tested to confirm the disease.

“For most people, the 2009 H1N1 flu is a mild, but somewhat unpleasant illness, similar to seasonal flu,” he said. “People with uncomplicated flu illness who are not considered (at) ‘high-risk’ based on age or medical condition, do not need to be seen by a health care

provider and do not need to be tested for H1N1.”

Gershman urges people with flu-like symptoms and not at high-risk to stay home until their fever has subsided for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

“If you are concerned, call your doctor if possible before making a trip to the office or the

emergency room,” he said.

Those at higher risk for complications for H1N1 and seasonal flu and may need to see a health care provider include: infants and young children; pregnant women; those 65 years of age and older; people of any age with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, weakened immune systems from cancer, HIV or immunosuppressive medications; people with kidney disease, diabetes or neurological and neuromuscular diseases; people younger than 19 years with diseases requiring long-term aspirin therapy; and individuals with other chronic diseases.

Gershman suggested antiviral medications such as Tamiflu for all people hospitalized with a flu-related illness. Antiviral medications are most beneficial in treating flu if they are started within 48 hours of illness onset.

State health officials encourage individuals to avoid the flu by getting seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccinations as soon as the vaccines become available. They also encourage frequently your washing hands; coughing and sneezing into the crook of your arm, rather than uncovered or in your hand; avoiding people with respiratory illness; staying home from work or school when sick, returning only after fever has subsided for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication.

For information about seasonal or 2009 H1N1 influenza, call

CoHELP at 1-877-462-2911 or visit the department’s Web site.