The San Diego County Well being & Human Providers Company says it’s now working with the state well being division to answer outbreaks of flu-like signs at Patrick Henry and Del Mar excessive colleges this week.
Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county’s deputy public well being officer, mentioned about 40% p.c of scholars at these campuses stayed dwelling on Wednesday, the latest day for which he had information. Some preliminary checks on college students had been constructive for influenza A.
“It is very important notice, although, the state is already concerned with this. We actually reported it as much as them. I’m positive they’re discussing it with their federal companions,” Kaiser mentioned. “Proper now, although, that is occurring in opposition to a baseline of one thing that we anticipated to occur, and that’s why we would like folks to be ready.”
Kaiser warned that the present outbreak isn’t restricted to those excessive colleges, however mentioned college outbreaks had been extra noticeable as a result of directors monitor attendance.
“In case you’re going to see a lot of folks sick out in a geographic space, you are likely to see it hit the colleges first,” he mentioned, “not as a result of it’s not occurring different locations, however that’s merely these are those conserving the closest tabs on statistics.”
The county says the flu is already spreading rapidly in the neighborhood, and is just going to worsen. So officers are urging everybody to get their flu shot — particularly people who find themselves extra weak.
“Throughout the county we’re seeing a lot of influenza instances in a few of the largest counts we’ve ever seen for October,” Kaiser mentioned. “That is necessary for folk to appreciate that, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it most likely is a duck, and we already anticipated that it was going to to be a nasty flu season. And every thing is clicking into place.”
Dr. Teresa Hardisty, a Sharp Rees-Stealy pediatrician, advised KPBS that influenza A is especially hard-hitting. She mentioned that, after a few years of pandemic precautions, not everybody’s immune system is prepared for it.
“The pure immunity within the inhabitants has gone down, and influenza has not likely circulated that a lot,” Hardisty mentioned. “And so individuals are coming in with excessive fevers, severe cough, feeling achy and low fevers. Often with influenza the fevers final for 4 or 5 days, and they are often as excessive as 104 or 105, so individuals are very uncomfortable.”
Hardisty mentioned the flu vaccine gave the physique a “prewarning,” so, if somebody will get the flu, they’ve a milder case.
“[The flu] rages by way of the neighborhood, so I believe that in the event you can lower the extent of sickness by having the vaccine prior, I believe that is a vital vital approach so that you can shield your self and likewise reduce the prospect that you simply may unfold influenza A to anyone who may has decrease pure immunity,” Hardisty mentioned.
She mentioned she had seen the worst instances in medically fragile infants, kids beneath the age of 1, and youngsters with bronchial asthma and different situations. She urges dad and mom to get kids vaccinated in the event that they’re sufficiently old. And, she mentioned, “I might advocate to be extra cautions with publicity in massive indoor teams [and] in communities which have present outbreaks.”
When that’s not potential, she mentioned masking was potential for older kids, and suggested dad and mom to speak to their docs about drugs that may shield their kids.
And for people who find themselves sick, she mentioned, loads of relaxation and wholesome meals are key to getting higher.