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The flu is widespread in Colorado, however the virus hasn’t hit the state practically as exhausting as some others.
Nationwide, confirmed flu hospitalizations and outpatient visits for flu-like diseases each hit their highest ranges since not less than 2009. In California, hospitals have struggled with an inflow of severely sick flu sufferers, and a few components of the nation have reported seeing uncommon problems, significantly in kids.
Colorado hospitals admitted 425 folks for flu within the week ending Feb. 1, which was the busiest week for flu hospitalizations since not less than fall 2019. Nonetheless, it is not as unhealthy because the 2017-2018 flu season, state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy mentioned.
“Influenza levels are very high,” she mentioned. “We are not seeing as high levels in Colorado … as some states are seeing.”
Flu hospitalizations look like rising, so Colorado could face extra within the coming weeks, mentioned Dr. Bob Belknap, government director of the Public Well being Institute at Denver Well being. However nothing to this point suggests hospital capability might be an issue, he mentioned.
“We’re still in the midst of (the season), so it’s hard to predict where things might go,” he mentioned.
Nobody is aware of precisely why flu hits some states more durable than others in any given 12 months, although the combination of strains circulating and vaccination ranges may very well be components, Herlihy mentioned. This season is a bit uncommon, as a result of flu infections appeared to peak across the starting of the 12 months, then rose once more extra not too long ago, she mentioned.
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention estimated that about 29 million People have had the flu to this point this season; 370,000 had been sick sufficient to want hospital care; and 16,000 have died. The demise whole contains 68 kids.
One little one in Colorado has died from flu for the reason that season began in October. The state would not monitor grownup flu deaths.
The Colorado Division of Public Well being and Atmosphere has requested hospitals to ship extra flu samples to allow them to search for avian influenza, however these have not turned up any new instances, Herlihy mentioned. Nationwide, 68 folks had confirmed avian flu, all however 4 of whom labored with poultry or cattle.
In some methods, this season is extra typical than current years, mentioned Dr. Michelle Barron, senior medical director of an infection prevention and management at UCHealth. In 2020 and 2021, flu nearly disappeared as folks took precautions in opposition to COVID-19.
“I think it’s all perspective,” she mentioned.
Anecdotally, children who get the flu appear extra depressing from the signs than typical, although these with uncomplicated instances sometimes do not go to a health care provider, mentioned Dr. Hector De Leon, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente’s Fort Collins location. In some instances, children are getting one other viral or bacterial an infection on the identical time, he mentioned.
“I think people’s symptoms are a little more pronounced,” he mentioned.
Adults admitted for flu at Denver Well being are about as sick as anticipated, Belknap mentioned. Flu creates a chance for different germs to trigger problems resembling pneumonia, he mentioned.
How extreme every flu season is relies on many components, however one factor that doubtless contributed this 12 months is that fewer folks obtained vaccinated, Barron mentioned. Nationwide, vaccine uptake was down amongst kids, folks over 65 and pregnant ladies—all higher-risk teams.
The flu shot would not stop all diseases, however considerably reduces the severity if somebody does get sick, Belknap mentioned.
“You’re less likely to get really sick and be hospitalized,” he mentioned.
If different viruses had been spreading broadly proper now, that would create issues for hospital capability, Barron mentioned. As is, although, COVID-19 hospitalized fewer folks than in any current winter, presumably as a result of immunity constructed up throughout a summer season wave.
“We haven’t seen any issues with capacity,” she mentioned. “If we were seeing higher amounts of COVID along with flu, that would be more challenging.”
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Colorado has ‘very excessive’ flu exercise, however not as unhealthy as the remainder of the nation (2025, February 17)
retrieved 17 February 2025
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