CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa Medical Center's staff has seen a growing number of flu-symptomatic patients in the emergency room since late November, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Numerous patients have also been admitted for treatment of flu-related complications.
Flu activity in the U.S. commonly peaks between December and February, but can continue as late as May.
In the meantime, it's not too late to get the flu shot. Even if the flu season peaks soon, the virus will still be around for months.
Here are three tips to stay safe:
•Vaccinate. Get the flu shot for yourself and everyone in your family. It’s available at your doctor’s office and many urgent care centers in the area, with many offering same-day appointments.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend everyone older than 6 months, except people with severe egg allergies, be immunized. Both shot and nasal spray vaccine forms are safe and effective and rarely have side effects.
"Vaccination is the simplest step you can take to protect yourself," said Vicente Mendez, M.D., North Okaloosa Physician Group. "More often than not, the patients I see who have the flu did not take this action to protect themselves or their family."
•Get treatment. If you do get the flu, your doctor or an urgent care center can prescribe antiviral medication to treat flu illness and prevent serious flu complications.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses are particularly vulnerable to catching the flu and experiencing complications. It’s important to treat high-risk individuals promptly to avoid hospitalization.
Antiviral medication works best when begun within 48 hours of getting sick, but can still be beneficial when given later in the course of illness. These drugs can also lessen serious flu complications.
•Prevention. Avoid sick people and wash your hands frequently to reduce the spread of germs. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, and resist touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
In addition, avoid close contact with people who have the flu or symptoms; and, if you’re sick with the flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading it to others.
“Though this year’s flu vaccination is not a perfect tool, it’s the best way to protect against flu infection,” Mendez said. "Caregivers at our clinic and North Okaloosa Medical Center take the safety of our patients seriously, and we’ve had a high participation rate with voluntary vaccination efforts among our clinicians and physicians."
DID YOU KNOW?
Flu is one of the nation's leading causes of death, with roughly 24,000 people a year dying from flu and its complications.
Latest figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the flu hitting hard in all but seven states this year.
MORE DETAILS
Visit the flu section at www.northokaloosa.com.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Flu season in full swing, but shots still available