Local urgent care facilities and emergency rooms have seen a significant increase in flu cases over the last two weeks.
Dr. Timothy Schwob, medical director of First Assist Urgent Care in Johnson City, said the patient volume there has risen to between 70 and 100 patients a day, and most of them are seeking treatment for influenza.
The influenza vaccine is still the best way to protect against flu infection, Schwob said.
“A flu shot really is the way to go and is recommended for virtually all age groups in all settings,” Schwob said. “It’s a good idea to be vaccinated, because the flu is a miserable problem.”
It’s not too late to get a flu shot to help protect you this season. Even though it takes about two weeks to build up full immunity, getting a shot now will provide some protection. If you do catch the flu virus, the shot could make the infection less intense. Influenza could still be circulating in the region for another month or two, Schwob said.
Aside from vaccination, washing your hands is the best way to keep from getting sick this winter. Careful attention to hand hygiene will help ward off not only flu, but also colds, stomach bugs, and other viral and bacterial infections that circulate in the winter time.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these tips to make hand washing most effective:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
- Rub your hands together to make lather and scrub them well. Be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
- Continue scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under running water.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer.
If flu strikes your household this season, before going to a hospital emergency room for treatment, call 1-800-888-5551 and select option 2 to speak with a Mountain States Health Alliance nurse who can help you find the quickest and most cost effective care for your symptoms.
About Mountain States Health Alliance
Mountain States Health Alliance, a not-for-profit health care organization based in Johnson City, Tenn., operates a family of hospitals serving a 29-county, four-state region (Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Southeastern Kentucky and Western North Carolina). MSHA offers a large tertiary hospital, several community hospitals, two critical access hospitals, rehabilitation, a children’s hospital, a behavioral health hospital, home care and hospice services as well as a comprehensive medical management corporation. Its 13,500 team members, associated physicians and volunteers are committed to its mission of bringing loving care to health care. For more information, visit www.msha.com.
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