Kentucky Health News
Two more people have died in Kentucky from influenza this season, bringing that number up to eight, according to the state Department for Public Health weekly flu report.
Kentucky is among states with the highest levels of flu activity, says the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and its weekly surveillance report shows another jump in new cases, bigger than the week before.
In the week ended Dec. 28, the last week for which the state has issued a report, Kentucky had 2,213 new cases of flu, up from 1,339 new cases reported the week before. During this flu season, 5,988 cases have been confirmed in Kentucky. The actual number is higher; 22 of the state's 120 counties did not report.
At the same time last year, Kentucky had a total of 1,457 lab confirmed flu test and five deaths, one under the age of 18. One of those who died this year was under 18.
The CDC recommends that everyone over six months of age get a flu vaccination each year. There is still plenty of time to get one; flu season runs through May.
A spokesman from the Lexington-Fayette Health Department stressed the importance of getting a flu shot and told Spectrum News that of the county's 141 lab-confirmed cases of the flu, only about 20% of them had received the flu shot. Fayette County reported 77 new cases during the week.
"What we're seeing right now is just a lack of people getting the flu shot . . . So go out, get the flu shot, whether it's here or at your pharmacy, your medical provider, just get it somewhere," health-department spokesman Kevin Hall told Spectrum News.
Pike County continues to be hit hard by the flu and was one of the hardest-hit counties during the week ending Dec. 28, with 107 new flu cases reported, for a total of 242 this season. Joel Thornbury, a pharmacist at Pikeville's Nova Pharmacy, told WYMT on Jan. 7 that he had about 100 doses of flu vaccine to give away, as a way to help those who might not otherwise be able to get one.
Nearby Perry County remained a hotspot, but cooled; it reported 31 more cases, for a total of 435. It had reported 94 the prior week. Adjoining Letcher County reported 24 new cases, for a total of 106, and adjoining Leslie County had 42 more, for a total of 171.
Every county adjoining Barren County saw a jump in their number of flu cases during the week ending Dec. 28, with most of the seven counties doubling or nearly doubling their numbers and most of Allen County's cases being reported that week.
Barren County reported 126 new cases, for a total of 265; Warren had 100 more for a total of 184; Monroe had 52 more for a total of 110; Hart had 30 more for a total of 61; Metcalfe had 29 more for a total of 58; Edmonson had two more for a total of seven; and Allen had 31 more for a total of 49.
For the first time this season, Clark County reports that it has 22 cases of the flu. Lincoln County also reported the bulk of its cases during this surveillance week, 62 new cases, for a total of 63.
Several other counties saw big jumps. Garrard reported 28 new cases, for a total of 34, Marshall reported 38 new cases, for a total of 48, and Shelby reported 38 for a total of 71.
Jefferson County saw another big jump, reporting 866 new cases for a total of 2,468. Nearby Bullitt County had 42 more for a total of 266, after nearly doubling its number of cases the prior week and Oldham County saw a big jump of 90 new cases for a total of 147.
Two more people have died in Kentucky from influenza this season, bringing that number up to eight, according to the state Department for Public Health weekly flu report.
Kentucky is among states with the highest levels of flu activity, says the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and its weekly surveillance report shows another jump in new cases, bigger than the week before.In the week ended Dec. 28, the last week for which the state has issued a report, Kentucky had 2,213 new cases of flu, up from 1,339 new cases reported the week before. During this flu season, 5,988 cases have been confirmed in Kentucky. The actual number is higher; 22 of the state's 120 counties did not report.
At the same time last year, Kentucky had a total of 1,457 lab confirmed flu test and five deaths, one under the age of 18. One of those who died this year was under 18.
The CDC recommends that everyone over six months of age get a flu vaccination each year. There is still plenty of time to get one; flu season runs through May.
A spokesman from the Lexington-Fayette Health Department stressed the importance of getting a flu shot and told Spectrum News that of the county's 141 lab-confirmed cases of the flu, only about 20% of them had received the flu shot. Fayette County reported 77 new cases during the week.
"What we're seeing right now is just a lack of people getting the flu shot . . . So go out, get the flu shot, whether it's here or at your pharmacy, your medical provider, just get it somewhere," health-department spokesman Kevin Hall told Spectrum News.Pike County continues to be hit hard by the flu and was one of the hardest-hit counties during the week ending Dec. 28, with 107 new flu cases reported, for a total of 242 this season. Joel Thornbury, a pharmacist at Pikeville's Nova Pharmacy, told WYMT on Jan. 7 that he had about 100 doses of flu vaccine to give away, as a way to help those who might not otherwise be able to get one.
Nearby Perry County remained a hotspot, but cooled; it reported 31 more cases, for a total of 435. It had reported 94 the prior week. Adjoining Letcher County reported 24 new cases, for a total of 106, and adjoining Leslie County had 42 more, for a total of 171.
Every county adjoining Barren County saw a jump in their number of flu cases during the week ending Dec. 28, with most of the seven counties doubling or nearly doubling their numbers and most of Allen County's cases being reported that week.
Barren County reported 126 new cases, for a total of 265; Warren had 100 more for a total of 184; Monroe had 52 more for a total of 110; Hart had 30 more for a total of 61; Metcalfe had 29 more for a total of 58; Edmonson had two more for a total of seven; and Allen had 31 more for a total of 49.
For the first time this season, Clark County reports that it has 22 cases of the flu. Lincoln County also reported the bulk of its cases during this surveillance week, 62 new cases, for a total of 63.
Several other counties saw big jumps. Garrard reported 28 new cases, for a total of 34, Marshall reported 38 new cases, for a total of 48, and Shelby reported 38 for a total of 71.
Jefferson County saw another big jump, reporting 866 new cases for a total of 2,468. Nearby Bullitt County had 42 more for a total of 266, after nearly doubling its number of cases the prior week and Oldham County saw a big jump of 90 new cases for a total of 147.
from Kentucky Health News https://ift.tt/30aXrQc
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