Texan Mosaic

Story by Ga-Ram Nam, COMM 2311-151 Newswriting

How many times have you washed your hands today? If you answered “a lot,” then the chances are you are lowering your risk of catching the flu.

And this year, that may have been a good choice.

A large-scale flu outbreak has spread across the United States this winter. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this flu season has been the worst in 15 years.

The Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report released by the CDC on Feb. 8 showed the flu positivity rate was 31.6%. That, the CDC reported, marked the first time since the 2017-18 flu season that all age groups and the general populationexperienced such severe conditions.

How do you know if you already have the flu?

DeEtte Edens, associate director of Health and Wellness at South Plains College and a family nurse practitioner, explains there are some early symptoms. “Early symptoms of flu can be nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, body aches, and cough; often these symptoms occur quickly,” she says.

Posters, featuring a sick-looking “bug” began appearing all over campus last month offering “good health habits for prevention.”

Edens echoes the same advice warning people to avoid close contact with sick people, stay home when sick, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and practice good hand washing.

Edens further emphasizes that if someone falls ill, the best course of action is to seek medical attention from a health care provider as soon as possible.

Even more importantly, Edens stresses that the best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine. “Vaccinated individuals may still get flu,” she says, “but often the symptoms are much milder, and return to daily activities is sooner.”

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age or older this season. Furthermore, DSHS on its website writes, “Texans can call 211 or visit 211Texas.org to find information on vaccine availability from local public health departments and other nearby non-profit organizations.”

For those who have already contracted the flu, Edens has advice. “To avoid the continued spread of influenza,” she says, “once diagnosed, it is best to not attend school or work and isolate for at least three days or until symptoms are improvingand the patient has been without fever for 24 hours with fever-reducing medication.”

So why don’t you go wash your hands again?  The “flu season” is not over yet.  Edens says the flu season typically peaks in mid-February.

“This data,” she says, “is aligning with the current number of cases being diagnosed daily within the community and West Texas area.”

According to the CDC, for the last 40 years, flu activity most often peaked in February, followed by December, January, and March.   

The good news from the CDC is that for the week ending Feb. 22, the flu positivity rate was 24.5%.  That’s lower than two weeks ago.

More detailed information on the flu and prevention methods can be found on the official CDC website or at the Health & Wellness Center on the SPC Levelland campus.