Flu Season Hits Early: Jupiter Medical Center ER Sees Cases Jump

Flu season has arrived early in north Palm Beach County, and Jupiter Medical Center's emergency department is seeing far more cases than it did a year ago.

Dr. Ilya Aylyarov, chief of the hospital's emergency department, told The Palm Beach Post the ER treated about 80 flu patients in October and 40 in September. Over the same two months last year, it saw about 30.

With Halloween behind us and holiday gatherings ahead, here's where things stand and what Jupiter families can do to lower their risk.

How bad is it?

Florida has the second-highest flu activity in the country, and Palm Beach County ranks fourth in the state, according to the Walgreens Flu Index as of October 24. The Florida Department of Health's latest weekly flu review, covering October 11 to 17, shows cases rising in South Florida.

Not every part of the county is seeing the same thing. A doctor at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach said case counts there are about the same as last year. At Alan B. Miller Medical Center in Palm Beach Gardens, the emergency medical director said she is seeing outbreaks in assisted-living facilities and other group homes. None of the doctors the Post spoke with reported fewer cases.

The main strain circulating is H1N1, a common type of influenza A. Doctors said they are also seeing COVID-19 cases.

Florida's flu season runs from October through May and usually peaks between December and February.

Get a flu shot now

The CDC recommends a flu vaccine every year for everyone 6 months and older, with rare exceptions. The vaccine lowers your chance of getting sick and helps prevent severe illness and hospitalization if you do catch the flu.

It isn't too late to get this season's shot, and now is a good time. Protection takes about two weeks to build, and it generally lasts around six months. A shot now should cover you from early November into May, said Dr. Kleper De Almeida, an infectious disease specialist at Good Samaritan. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you pick the right vaccine for your age and health.

Think about the air you share

• Keep your distance from people who are sick.
• Gather outside when you can. Indoors, opening windows or running an air purifier can help cut down on respiratory viruses.
• Consider a well-fitting mask in crowded indoor places or around someone who is sick. This matters most when you're visiting older relatives or anyone with a weakened immune system.
• Be careful in crowds. De Almeida pointed to Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, as a likely spreading event because it puts many people in close quarters.

Keep washing your hands

Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. When you can't get to a sink, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Know the symptoms

Flu tends to come on suddenly. According to the CDC, symptoms can include:

• Fever or chills (though not everyone with flu runs a fever)
• Cough and sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches and headaches
• Fatigue
• Vomiting and diarrhea, which are more common in children

Most people recover within a few days to two weeks, but complications such as pneumonia can be serious.

If you have a fever and respiratory symptoms, an over-the-counter rapid test can tell you whether it's flu or COVID-19. You can also see a doctor.

Stay home when you're sick

The CDC advises staying home until your symptoms have been improving overall and you've gone at least 24 hours without a fever, without using fever-reducing medicine. For five days after you go back to your normal routine, take extra care: wear a mask, keep indoor air moving and give people some space.

Call early if you're at higher risk

Adults 65 and older, young children, pregnant people and people with certain chronic health conditions are more likely to have serious complications from the flu. If you're in one of these groups and start feeling sick, call your doctor right away.

Prescription antiviral medicines work best when started within two days of the first symptoms, though they can still help people who are very sick or at higher risk later on. If you've been exposed to someone with the flu, ask a doctor whether medication could lower your risk of getting sick. Antibiotics don't treat the flu.

Get medical care right away for warning signs such as trouble breathing, chest pain that won't go away, confusion or signs of dehydration.

Source: The Palm Beach Post. Additional information from the Florida Department of Health and the CDC.