Latest news with #DonaldDumford
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How to keep infections and germs from spreading at the gym
(WKBN) – If you joined a gym or plan to this summer, it's important to clean any equipment you use. Some people might not know that germs can spread this way. Doctors say you can get infections from touching skin or using shared equipment. To lower your risk, wipe down any equipment with disinfectant spray. Most gyms have spray and wipes available. It's also a good idea to shower when you get home. Dr. Donald Dumford, an infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, warns that we should be careful of other germs, too. 'We do have to think about the fact that the gym is a shared airspace, so you do put yourself at risk for the possibility of viruses such as flu, cold viruses, COVID, RSV. So really, if you are feeling ill, if you're having a fever, if you're having a cough, consider staying home from the gym until your symptoms are improved,' he said. Dumford says if you see anything unusual on your skin, like redness, itching or swelling, it's best to see a doctor. There are different treatments you can try. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
12-02-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Flu activity now highest in 15 years: See which states have it worst
(NEXSTAR) – Influenza cases continue to mount with the virus reaching activity levels in the U.S. not seen for the last 15 years, according to the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention. One indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctor's office visits driven by flu-like symptoms. Last week, that number was clearly higher than the peak of any winter flu season since 2009-2010, when a swine flu pandemic hit the nation, according to data posted Friday morning by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of course, other viral infections can be mistaken for flu. But COVID-19 appears to be on the decline, according to hospital data and to CDC modeling projections. Available data also suggests another respiratory illness, RSV, has been fading nationally. The flu has forced schools to shut down in some states. The Godley Independent School District, a 3,200-student system near Fort Worth, Texas, last week closed for three days after 650 students and 60 staff were out Tuesday. Jeff Meador, a district spokesman, said the vast majority of illnesses there have been flu, plus some strep throat. He called it the worst flu season he could remember. 'I always like to reiterate that if you have the flu, stay home from work or school and isolate yourself from your family as much as possible until fever free for 24 hours (without fever reducing medications) and your symptoms are starting to improve,' Cleveland Clinic Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Donald Dumford told Nexstar. 'Even then, I'm a proponent of masking for the next several days after you are out of isolation.' So far this season, the CDC estimates, there have been at least 24 million flu illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths — including at least 57 children. Traditionally, flu season peaks around February. Overall, 43 states reported high or very high flu activity last week. Flu was most intense in the South, Southwest and western states. Cleveland Clinic doctors recommend doing the following to help prevent the spread of flu: Proper handwashing. Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Avoiding people who are sick. Wearing masks in situations when you can't avoid people who are sick, such as caring for a sick child.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What is influenza A, the type of flu making people so sick right now?
(NEXSTAR) – The flu is spreading far and wide across the U.S. – and influenza A is largely to blame. Of all the flu tests reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since the start of flu season last fall, about 97% have turned up positive for influenza A. Influenza A is further divided into subtypes. You may have heard of H1N1 or H3N2 – those are the two dominant types of influenza A circulating right now, according to the CDC. 'Influenza A typically causes worse symptoms compared to influenza B, and patients are more likely to get hospitalized with influenza A compared to influenza B,' said Dr. Donald Dumford, an infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic. But Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, warned influenza B can also be dangerous. 'Influenza B can be severe as well, but influenza A is the dominant version of influenza infecting people right now.' The flu season feels worse than normal this year. Is it? Both types spread the same way, cause similar symptoms, and are most dangerous for babies and the elderly. The flu vaccine is formulated to protect against both types. The dominance of influenza A at this point in the flu season is to be expected. Influenza A is more commonly seen earlier in flu season, in the winter months, while influenza B seems to crop up later, around early spring. Dumford expects the shift to happen this year in late February or early March. There are also two other types of influenza – C and D – but we don't worry about them as much. Influenza C typically causes mild illness and doesn't cause widespread epidemics, the CDC says, while influenza D mostly affects cattle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
07-02-2025
- Health
- The Hill
What is influenza A, the type of flu making people so sick right now?
(NEXSTAR) – The flu is spreading far and wide across the U.S. – and influenza A is largely to blame. Of all the flu tests reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since the start of flu season last fall, about 97% have turned up positive for influenza A. Influenza A is further divided into subtypes. You may have heard of H1N1 or H3N2 – those are the two dominant types of influenza A circulating right now, according to the CDC. 'Influenza A typically causes worse symptoms compared to influenza B, and patients are more likely to get hospitalized with influenza A compared to influenza B,' said Dr. Donald Dumford, an infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic. But Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, warned influenza B can also be dangerous. 'Influenza B can be severe as well, but influenza A is the dominant version of influenza infecting people right now.' The flu season feels worse than normal this year. Is it? Both types spread the same way, cause similar symptoms, and are most dangerous for babies and the elderly. The flu vaccine is formulated to protect against both types. The dominance of influenza A at this point in the flu season is to be expected. Influenza A is more commonly seen earlier in flu season, in the winter months, while influenza B seems to crop up later, around early spring. Dumford expects the shift to happen this year in late February or early March. There are also two other types of influenza – C and D – but we don't worry about them as much. Influenza C typically causes mild illness and doesn't cause widespread epidemics, the CDC says, while influenza D mostly affects cattle.
