Flu season having impact on area

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Flu season is in full swing across the country, but flu cases in Cullman County have so far not been as high as last year’s.

Email newsletter signup

Alabama saw thousands of flu cases from the end of 2017 into the beginning of 2018, with Gov. Kay Ivey declared a State Public Health Emergency after some schools were forced to close and hospitals were filled with patients.

Cullman County was hit particularly hard during the last season, with county schools being forced to close for two days to let students stay home to get better and let faculty disinfect their classrooms, but the end of 2018 hasn’t seen nearly that number of flu cases in the area, said Wendy Smith, staff nurse at the Cullman County Health Department.

“It’s been okay so far,” she said. “So far it hasn’t been like it was last year.”

To help prevent an outbreak like last year’s, Smith recommended getting the flu vaccination, and said the Health Department still has plenty of doses available to people who have yet to be vaccinated.

Along with the vaccination, hand washing is the next most important way to prevent the spread of the flu, she said.

“Hand washing is crucial,” she said.

Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches and muscle or body aches.

If someone is diagnosed with the flu by a doctor, they should wait until the doctor clears them to return to work or school, or wait until their fever has been gone for at least 24 hours to help make sure that they won’t spread it to others, Smith said. 

“It’s not something that’s over with in 24 hours,” she said. “It takes days.”

The Cullman County Health Department offers flu vaccinations every Monday from 7-11 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.

Tips for avoiding the flu:

Avoiding flu

Try to avoid close contact with sick people

While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze

Wash your hands often with soap and water

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

Tyler Hanes can be reached at 256-734-2131 ext. 138.