Flu Statistics Worrisome In Georgia, But It’s Too Early To Predict Impact

Health officials emphasize that it’s not too late to get a flu shot.

David Goldman / Associated Press file

Public Health officials said Tuesday that they’re concerned about flu trends in Georgia.

It’s not clear whether the flu season could be as severe as last year’s, state epidemiologist Cherie Drenzek told the board of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “It’s too early to know,’’ she said, adding, “Some trends to date seem concerning.”

Georgia is being hit harder than other states, she said, because the predominant strain circulating here is H3N2, while the main virus nationally is H1N1. (And H1N1 is far from harmless. In late December, fast-rising political journalist Bre Payton died at age 26 after being diagnosed with it in California.)