12-02-2025
Hospitalizations from the flu on the rise
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — This year, the is tracking a flu outbreak that has led to more than 13,000 deaths and 300,000 hospitalizations—a strain that Mid-Michigan doctors say has made its way to the region.
'We have seen so many more cases of flu than we've seen in a very long time,' says Marry Roelofs, a family physician with Holt Family Practice. 'It's kind of going through whole houses as well, where if one person gets it for them from school, it tends to go through the whole house and it's been spreading very, very quickly.'
Doctors say people have let their guard down since the COVID-19 pandemic, but now it is time to get back to basic prevention methods.
'So flu shots, washing hands,' says Roelofs. 'And if you do feel sick or if someone near you is feeling sick, please wear a mask because it does help prevent transmission, not only of flu but of other viruses and other things that we don't want to spread.'
If you do get sick, keep an eye on how you're feeling—and know when you need extra help.
Officials with the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow say that flu symptoms have been the most commonly reported problem at emergency rooms in recent months, but so far, they haven't been overwhelmed.
'It's going to depend on the person,' says Roelofs. 'If it's someone who's having any problems, difficulty breathing if they're having chest pain if they haven't been able to keep water down or anything of that sort, that that's something is going to be more of an urgent care setting.'
If you aren't sure if you need to go to the hospital or not, Sparrow offers that will let you check your symptoms against a list of car options—from a trip to urgent care, virtual appointment, to even a flu shot. You can book those on the same webpage.
Doctors say getting the vaccine is the best thing you can do to keep yourself out of the hospital for the rest of the flu season, however long that lasts.
'We're hoping the beginning of spring or early May, this should hopefully calm down,' says Roelofs. 'But we can't guarantee there don't really seem to be any rules anymore. '
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