The Centers for Disease Control lists Kansas as one of 15 states experiencing high numbers of influenza-like illnesses. but local agencies say they are not seeing large numbers of confirmed cases.
According to the CDC’s website, Kansas experienced high influenza activity during the week ending Jan. 28.
While schools are shut down in states like Tennessee over the large number of influenza cases,
Jacki Chase, nurse at Iola’s middle and high schools, said although there have a been a few actual confirmed cases of influenza, there have not been as many cases as she typically sees each year. She said she believes vaccinations are the reason for the decrease. Flu shots are offered at both schools and she said several students receive the vaccinations every year.
“I know this community is very good about promoting this vaccine,” Chase said. “ I do believe that makes a difference.”
According to Chase, there is some misunderstanding about what influenza is. She said people who contract a stomach virus often mistakenly refer to it as the flu.
“A lot of people call a stomach virus the flu,” Chase said. “Influenza is a virus that exists all of the time and keeps circulating. It can end up causing complications like pneumonia. It’s a messy illness. People who get it are usually sick for several days and they are quite sick.”
Deidre Wilson is a public health nurse at the Southeastern Kansas Multi-County Health Department. She said there is a specific test to confirm influenza and its different strains. However, she said influenza is not an illness that health authorities are mandated by law to report unless there is an infant death associated with the virus. She said this lack of reporting makes influenza hard to track.
Infection prevention specialist at Allen County Regional Hospital, Polly Barker, said there has been a dramatic increase of confirmed influenza cases in the area compared to last year. In January 2017, according to Barker, the hospital tested 67 patients for the illness and 14 of those tested positive. During January 2016, the hospital saw no confirmed cases. For the week ending Feb. 2, the hospital saw 33 patients with flu-like symptoms and of those eight tested positive. Barker said the threat of influenza is not over yet, although she said she suspects the number of confirmed cases will decrease.
“I think we are at the apex of it right now,” Barker said.
Brian Neely, physician, agrees. He said that although he saw a spike in the number of confirmed cases about two weeks ago, in the last few days the numbers are decreasing.
Marian Highberger, licensed practical nurse at Windsor Place, said the assisted living home, in Iola, currently has no confirmed cases of influenza. She said the home has had three confirmed cases this winter.
“We stay pretty diligent until about mid-March or the first of April, or if we are still having confirmed cases after that,” Highberger said.
Highberger said the staff takes extra precautions when the illness “pops up” in the community. They put a sign up on the door reminding visitors to check in with the nursing station and to wear masks if they have been sick. When a patient contracts the virus the staff carries out a regimen that includes relocating roommates, implementing CDC recommendations for droplet isolation and wearing protective gear.
The risk of influenza is so low and the number of requests for the vaccination is so minimal locally, that according to Administrator of SEK Health Department, Chardel Hastings, the agency’s supply is nearly depleted.
“Normally we give it until it is gone. We could go ahead and order more vaccines if we needed to, but in years past we’ve been stuck with a large supply to dispose of. We probably still have four doses of adult, and we still have a couple doses of pediatric and then we still have a few doses for the elderly 65 or older But we ordered probably 1,200 doses at the beginning of the season, between the four counties, and we have used that supply.”
Chardell said the unused vaccinations are costly to store and last year the agency disposed of 150.
“It’s always recommended that you get your flu vaccine like in October before the flu season starts,” Hasting said. “It lasts through the flu season if you get it early.”
Gerri Godderz, secretary of Crest Elementary School, said that school has had only one confirmed case of influenza this winter and that was as recently as the week ending Feb. 12.
The neighboring states of Oklahoma and Missouri are also included on the CDC’s list.
Flu numbers vary here
