Lake County reports highest rate of flu-like cases in Indiana, cases rising nationally
In total, 57 Indiana residents have died from flu this season, which spans from October through May in the U.S., according to the Indiana Department of Health.
After Lake County, Marion County has reported 8 flu deaths, while the remaining 90 counties have reported either none or under 5 deaths, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
The Indiana Department of Health tracks influenza-like illness, or ILI, which is when a patient has a fever of 100 degrees or higher and a cough and/or sore throat.
In the last week, the department reported that ILI in Indiana is very high, with emergency department and urgent care visits reporting 6.21% of patients with ILI and outpatient facilities reporting 6.08% of patients with ILI.
Lake County reported 3.2% of patients and Porter County reported 3.8% of patients in emergency departments and urgent cares reported ILI symptoms this week, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
Porter County reported 5.2% of patients and Lake County reported 2.9% of patients in outpatient facilities reported ILI symptoms this week, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
Both of those data points are more than 1.25% higher than the previous week, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows most of the country, particularly the Midwest and East Coast, are reporting very high and high levels of the flu.
Lake County Health Officer Dr. Chandana Vavilala said a significant amount of flu infections have been reported in the county and throughout the state. Additionally, Norovirus is spreading at a higher rate than a typical winter, she said.
Erica Kaufman West, the medical director of infectious diseases with Franciscan Physician Network, said it's about midway through flu season. If the data increases as the weeks go on, that would be unusual, she said.
This flu season is one of the worst ones in recent years, Kaufman West said, as she's seen many more people hospitalized with severe flu-like symptoms. She's heard from patients that classroom sizes have felt smaller as five to six students have been out sick at the same time.
'We haven't seen a lot of high flu rates since COVID. So I think this is a little unusual in that case in that we haven't had one this bad recently,' Kaufman West said.
This flu season, Kaufman West said the dominant symptoms have been high fever, muscle weakness and fatigue.
The best protection against the flu is receiving the flu shot in October, Kaufman West said, as it takes about two weeks for the immune system to adjust to the vaccines.
Anyone over the age of 65, with chronic medical conditions, diabetes, heart conditions and kidney problems should get vaccinated, Vavilala said.
With the recent appointment of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is a prominent vaccine skeptic, Kaufman West said she remains 'cautiously optimistic' that he will make decisions based on data and research.
'I'm just hoping that there is a sort of reevaluation of what's best for the American public, what's best for America's public health, what's best to keep us all safe and healthy. Obviously, vaccines are a huge part of that,' Kaufman West said.
Other precautions to take are washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth and nose while coughing, and avoiding touching your mouth and nose, Vavilala said.
Once sick, anyone infected should stay home, rest, drink fluids and wash their hands often, Kaufman West said.
akukulka@post-trib.com
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