GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Local health officials are reminding the public to stay vigilant as peak influenza season is drawing near.
So far the bug is off to a relatively mild start with only ten individuals being hospitalized with the illness throughout Brown County.
“Last year, at this time, we had followed up with twenty individuals that were hospitalized with influenza,” says Ann Steinberger, with Brown County Health & Human Services-Public Health.
It’s certainly encouraging to see the number of hospitalizations cut in half thus far, but health officials are reminding the public that the worst is yet to come.
“We’re still very new in the flu season,” says Steinberger. “It has not reached its peak yet.”
And that dreaded peak season typically comes sometime in early to mid-February, which means the public still has to remain vigilant for quite some time.
The most effective and trusted method to combat the upcoming peak season is to receive the influenza vaccination.
“There is still plenty of time to get that vaccine,” explains Steinberger.
And not only plenty of time to get the vaccine, but also plenty of opportunities for the public to receive it.
“They can check with their primary care provider, pharmacies do carry the flu vaccine,” she explains. “We also have vaccine available here [at Brown County Health and Human Services] for adults.”
It will typically take around ten days to two weeks for the vaccine to develop full immunity, meaning that the sooner someone receives the vaccination the better.
And health officials are seeing a common thread between the illness and the vaccination.
“The viruses that are circulating are very similar to the vaccine,” she says.
While the number of hospitalizations due to influenza is at this point low, that doesn’t mean the illness is being contained to that small handful of individuals.
“Influenza is circulating in the community, we know that,” she says.
That means some common sense steps are recommended to stay clear of getting sick from someone around you.
“Cover your cough, wash your hands,” says Steinberger. “If you are sick, stay at home.”
