Flu season comes to county early

MINERAL COUNTY – Flu season seems to have come to Western Montana early this year and the Mineral County Health Department is offering vaccines in an attempt to limit spreading the virus.

Last week, the health department held flu shot clinics at the county’s schools. During their clinic at the Alberton School, there were approximately 51 participants; another one held at the St. Regis School also saw 51 people immunized. There was also a clinic at the Superior schools on Monday, October 5 and a final clinic will be held at the Old De Borgia Schoolhouse on Wednesday, October 7 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm.

Peggy Stevens, public health director at the MCHD and a Registered Nurse, said the best way to prevent catching the flu was to practice universal precautions. These include washing hands regularly, covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing and other basic precautions. She also encouraged people to stay home if they are sick, so as not to risk passing the virus on to others.

“If you’re sick don’t keep going to work or sending your kids to school,” Stevens said.

It was noted children and the elderly are especially susceptible to the flu virus and extra care should be taken when around them while contagious.

It was also recommended people get vaccines as early as possible. Aside from the extra step allowing people to get protection early, before the flu is spreading rapidly through a community, it also gives enough time for the vaccine to take hold; Stevens estimated it takes approximately two months for it to take full effect.

“It takes two months after the shot to get immunity,” she said.

According to Stevens, a number of flu cases have been reported in the Missoula area over the last few months. Given the county’s proximity to the city, and Interstate-90, the health department encourages everyone to get the flu shot soon.

It is also recommended to take precautions if flu-like symptoms develop. Some of these include developing a sore throat, coughing, sneezing, muscle aches, fatigue or fever. The Center for Disease Control notes it is possible to spread the disease anywhere from a day before symptoms begin to a week after getting sick.

According to information released by the CDC earlier this year, elderly people should especially seek medical attention if flu-like symptoms appear. They state people 65 and older getting early treatment with antiviral medications cut the duration of any hospital care as well as reducing the chance of needing extended care after being released.

“Flu can be extremely serious in older people, leading to hospitalization and, in some cases, long-term disability,” said Dr. Dan Jernigan, director of the CDC’s Influenza Division, in their release. “This important study shows that people 65 and older should seek medical care early when they develop flu symptoms.”

The current vaccines being administered by the health department last for approximately six months. The CDC has said the current vaccines are 60 percent affective at preventing this year’s strain of influenza, which Stevens said is a very good rate for protection.

For more information on the 2015-16 flu season, go to www.cdc.gov/flu.