INDIANAPOLIS (WFIE) -
State
health officials are now reporting 27 deaths due to flu-related illness in
Indiana.
The overwhelming majority of the deaths, 24, have occurred in
individuals older than 65 years.
State
health officials, in cooperation with local health departments, have reached
out to long term care facilities to advise on the seriousness of influenza and
provide recommendations for reducing its spread and encouraging the facilities
to offer the vaccine to residents and staff.
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now reporting that
flu-deaths have reached epidemic levels, which simply means the nation is
experiencing a higher number of flu-related deaths than was expected.
"We
are experiencing a more severe season than in recent years, however it's
important to recognize that flu is unpredictable and we have been through this
before," said State Health Commissioner William VanNess II, M.D. "Everyone
older than 6 months should be vaccinated as a first line of defense. Frequent
hand washing, covering your cough and staying home if you're not feeling well
will also help protect you and keep the flu from spreading."
No
shortage of flu vaccine is being reported, but health officials say there are
reports of some locations temporarily depleting their supply due to the current
high demand.
A flu vaccine locator can be found at www.StateHealth.in.gov. Flu vaccine can usually be found at local health
departments, pharmacies and with health care providers.
In
a report last week, the CDC said the 2012/13 influenza vaccine was about 62
percent effective. This season's vaccine offers protection against the three
most common strains of influenza: H3N2, H1N1 and Influenza B. The H3N2 strain
appears to be predominant thus far in the 2012/13 flu season. Health officials
stress that the flu vaccine is the best protection against flu.
Flu
vaccination is recommended for anyone six months of age or older. It is especially important for those
at higher risk of complications related to the flu, to get vaccinated. High
risk individuals include pregnant women, young children, people with chronic illnesses
and/or compromised immune systems and the elderly.
Symptoms of
influenza include: high fever, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle aches and sore
throat. Health officials encourage anyone experiencing these symptoms to
contact their health care provider.
Thorough and
frequent hand washing, covering your cough with a tissue or your sleeve and
staying home when you are sick can all help reduce the spread of the flu.
By comparison, Indiana had no flu-related deaths during the 2011/12 season and three deaths in the 2010/11 flu season.
For
more information about Indiana's 2012-2013 influenza season, visit the Indiana
State Department of Health at www.StateHealth.in.gov.
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