Another wave of flu expected

Charles Oliver

Flu cases seem to have tapered off in Whitfield and Murray counties, according to local officials. But they fear a second wave of flu may hit the area as winter progresses.

“The number of people coming in (to the Whitfield County health department) with flu-like symptoms seems to be leveling off if not falling,” said Jennifer Moorer, public information officer for the North Georgia Health District.

Hard numbers aren’t available, but several other health care officials report a similar impression.

“We did have a large number of children with flu in September and October, but we are seeing much smaller numbers now,” said Dr. Martin Michaels, a Dalton pediatrician. “We are still seeing some, but nowhere near the numbers we saw in October. For us, the end of October seemed to be the peak.”

“It has slacked off,” said Teresa Noland, office manager for The Health Depot in Chatsworth. “In October, we were seeing several daily, positive flu tests. It has slacked off but we are seeing another round.”

Hamilton Medical Center officials report that, based on admissions to its emergency department, flu cases have decreased.

But health officials say they expect to see another wave of flu cases.

“I’ve practiced in Dalton for 25 years, and normally, the peak of our flu season is in January, February or March. That’s the typical pattern so it’s still really early in the season,” said Michaels.

Health officials say people still need to take precautions to keep from getting the flu or to keep from spreading it if they do have it.

“You still need to wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and stay home from work or school if you are sick,” said Moorer. “And look for our announcements in The Daily Citizen when flu vaccine is available.”

Moorer said that neither the Murray County nor Whitfield County health department currently has either the seasonal flu vaccine or the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine. They expect small orders of the seasonal flu vaccine by the end of the month. Moorer said more H1N1 vaccine could come in at any time.

Michaels said his office has small amounts of both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccine.

Noland said that office has not received any of either vaccine. She said officials have blamed shortages for the lack of shipments.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says individuals six months to 24 years old, pregnant women, health care workers, parents and caregivers of infants, and people with high-risk medical conditions are most at risk from the H1N1 flu and should be given top priority for vaccines.

But some parents have expressed concern about the vaccine.

Dalton’s Evelyn Rodriguez says she and her two children got the live-virus nasal vaccine on Oct. 19. She said her children had no side effects, but she said she got sick a few days after getting the vaccine.

“I stated getting migraine headaches and backache. I went to the ER. They keep telling me it’s a virus. It was only supposed to last a couple of days, but mine has been going on for weeks and weeks,” she said.

She said doctors have told her her problems aren’t related to the vaccine but she believes otherwise.

“I’ve never had a migraine before. I’ve never had back pains. I’ve never had blood in my urine before,” she said.

She said that people should educate themselves before getting the vaccine or having their children vaccinated.

But health officials say the risks of the flu outweigh any side effects from either the seasonal or H1N1 vaccines.

“Nationwide, there has already been over 100 deaths among children from the H1N1 virus,” said Michaels.

Those deaths include Candy Chen, a 7-year-old student at Dalton’s City Park School, who passed away in September.