2008 Woodie Awards
February brings increase in flu cases
Evan Cotten
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
Influenza is preparing for its mid-winter attack on immune systems across the state, officials say.
"The flu is here," said Tim Timmons, supervisor of the Communicable Disease Program for the Lancaster County Health Department.
Flu tests have come back positive 20 percent of the time in Lancaster County over the past few weeks, Timmons said. Earlier this winter, only two percent of tests came back positive.
County health departments confirmed 499 flu cases last week, he said, a number which about doubles the previous week's cases.
University students are feeling the affects of the flu season this winter, and illness may explain some students' absences from classes.
January campus test results came back positive one in four times, said Dr. James Guest, director of the University Health Center. Recently, positive test results have gone up.
"In February we are seeing about half of those tests turn out positive," he said.
The flu usually begins with symptoms such as chills, fever, sore throat, dizziness and nausea. These symptoms become less severe as the virus runs its course.
As far as getting back to being healthy, students can't do much about the flu other than wait it out. The virus lasts about three to five days and is followed up by about a week of recovery.
Tamiflu is an antibiotic available if the flu is diagnosed within the first 48 hours, Guest said, but the cost of the pill is much greater than the overall benefit.
"It is not a vaccine," he said. "It is just an antibiotic to help stop the spread of the virus and shorten its course by a day or two."
Rest and fluids are the best treatments, Guest said, but if a person suffers from other ailments, such as asthma or diabetes, they should see a doctor to check for secondary infections.
"The flu is a virus that weakens the immune system," he said, "which can put certain people at a higher risk for follow up infections."
EVANCOTTEN@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
"The flu is here," said Tim Timmons, supervisor of the Communicable Disease Program for the Lancaster County Health Department.
Flu tests have come back positive 20 percent of the time in Lancaster County over the past few weeks, Timmons said. Earlier this winter, only two percent of tests came back positive.
County health departments confirmed 499 flu cases last week, he said, a number which about doubles the previous week's cases.
University students are feeling the affects of the flu season this winter, and illness may explain some students' absences from classes.
January campus test results came back positive one in four times, said Dr. James Guest, director of the University Health Center. Recently, positive test results have gone up.
"In February we are seeing about half of those tests turn out positive," he said.
The flu usually begins with symptoms such as chills, fever, sore throat, dizziness and nausea. These symptoms become less severe as the virus runs its course.
As far as getting back to being healthy, students can't do much about the flu other than wait it out. The virus lasts about three to five days and is followed up by about a week of recovery.
Tamiflu is an antibiotic available if the flu is diagnosed within the first 48 hours, Guest said, but the cost of the pill is much greater than the overall benefit.
"It is not a vaccine," he said. "It is just an antibiotic to help stop the spread of the virus and shorten its course by a day or two."
Rest and fluids are the best treatments, Guest said, but if a person suffers from other ailments, such as asthma or diabetes, they should see a doctor to check for secondary infections.
"The flu is a virus that weakens the immune system," he said, "which can put certain people at a higher risk for follow up infections."
EVANCOTTEN@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
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