Flu Continues To Infect Georgians At A Rapid Pace
This year’s flu season still has a tight grip on Georgia and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta released its latest data Friday.
Kristen Nordlund, a CDC spokesperson, said it looks like relief is still in the distant future.
“We are still seeing flu increase,” Nordlund said. “So we are hoping in the next few weeks that we do peak and that we start to see that come down, but it has not peaked yet.”
The state Department of Public Health said the flu has put at least 1,027 Georgians in the hospital this season. That number is likely to increase given the department and the CDC report widespread activity throughout the state.
Both agencies said there’s also a continuing high level of flu-related illness nationwide and here in Georgia.
Freda Lyon, with WellStar Health System, said it doesn’t help that Atlanta has so many people.
“We have a very diverse population,” Lyon said. “Having such a large population and a transient population that travels through Atlanta, that would help spread that flu virus, unfortunately.”
Vaccines have also not been as effective against this year’s H3N2 strain.
CDC officials say we are about 11 weeks into a typical 20-week flu season but it’s not too late to get a flu shot.