Two Flu Deaths in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) -- A deadly start to the flu season in Arkansas as the state health department reported five people have died from the illness.

To make matter more worrisome is health officials admit this is just the beginning stages of the flu season.

Arkansas' health department said it alone gave more than 250,000 flu shots in preparation for this flu season, but with five people already dead this early in the season it's worried more could follow.

"We're seeing relatively high numbers, and the pattern so far this year looks very much like last year," said Dr. Gary Wheeler, Arkansas' Chief of Infectious Disease. "Last year we had a very heavy season with a lot of people with influenza illnesses."

Wheeler added that it's hard to track an exact number of flu cases around the state, but at Rhea Drug in Little Rock, pharmacist Joe Searcy said Monday the flu-fighting prescriptions are going up.

"We've had an increase this year. It seems like over the last few years by this time we've filled one or two prescriptions," Searcy said. "We've had probably a dozen or so (this year), including small children."

To make matters worse, Searcy added flu attacking drugs like Tamiflu can be hard to come by this time of the year.

"It has been spotty. There have been times we've ordered and they've been out, but fortunately we have been able to get it in within a few days," Searcy said.

It's of course never too late for a reminder to help protect you from being the next victim of this spreading illness.

"We're on the upswing of part of the influenza curve right now, so it is not too late to get immunized," Dr. Wheeler said. "It takes about 10-14 days for your flu shot to begin to work, but we've probably got two to three months of influenza left in our community."

Dr. Wheeler continued that the strain being used in the flu vaccine is the correct one to fight the most predominant flu patients are testing positive for right now.

"The most strain that's out there, by a long shot are the strains that are in the influenza vaccine. We also know that the influenza at this point seems to be highly sensitive to drugs used to treat influenza," Wheeler said.

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OriginalHappyCamper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote OriginalHappyCamper Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Two Flu Deaths in Arkansas Posted: December 29 2013 at 5:04pm
	LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - The Arkansas Department of Health said two people have died from the Flu. Since Sept. 29, they've confirmed a total of 73 flu cases. Flu activity is increasing across the state and is expected to increase, and the health department is urging everyone to get vaccinated

Pixie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: June 05 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 19668	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pixie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 30 2013 at 6:20pm
	LITTLE ROCK (KATV) -- A deadly start to the flu season in Arkansas as the state health department reported five people have died from the illness. To make matter more worrisome is health officials admit this is just the beginning stages of the flu season. Arkansas' health department said it alone gave more than 250,000 flu shots in preparation for this flu season, but with five people already dead this early in the season it's worried more could follow. "We're seeing relatively high numbers, and the pattern so far this year looks very much like last year," said Dr. Gary Wheeler, Arkansas' Chief of Infectious Disease. "Last year we had a very heavy season with a lot of people with influenza illnesses." Wheeler added that it's hard to track an exact number of flu cases around the state, but at Rhea Drug in Little Rock, pharmacist Joe Searcy said Monday the flu-fighting prescriptions are going up. "We've had an increase this year. It seems like over the last few years by this time we've filled one or two prescriptions," Searcy said. "We've had probably a dozen or so (this year), including small children." To make matters worse, Searcy added flu attacking drugs like Tamiflu can be hard to come by this time of the year. "It has been spotty. There have been times we've ordered and they've been out, but fortunately we have been able to get it in within a few days," Searcy said. It's of course never too late for a reminder to help protect you from being the next victim of this spreading illness. "We're on the upswing of part of the influenza curve right now, so it is not too late to get immunized," Dr. Wheeler said. "It takes about 10-14 days for your flu shot to begin to work, but we've probably got two to three months of influenza left in our community." Dr. Wheeler continued that the strain being used in the flu vaccine is the correct one to fight the most predominant flu patients are testing positive for right now. "The most strain that's out there, by a long shot are the strains that are in the influenza vaccine. We also know that the influenza at this point seems to be highly sensitive to drugs used to treat influenza," Wheeler said.