LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — This 12 months, the Middle for Illness Management is monitoring a flu outbreak that has led to greater than 13,000 deaths and 300,000 hospitalizations—a pressure that Mid-Michigan medical doctors say has made its approach to the area.
“We have seen so many more cases of flu than we’ve seen in a very long time,” says Marry Roelofs, a household doctor with Holt Household Follow. “It’s kind of going through whole houses as well, where if one person gets it for them from school, it tends to go through the whole house and it’s been spreading very, very quickly.”
Docs say folks have let their guard down because the COVID-19 pandemic, however now it’s time to get again to fundamental prevention strategies.
“So flu shots, washing hands,” says Roelofs. “And if you do feel sick or if someone near you is feeling sick, please wear a mask because it does help prevent transmission, not only of flu but of other viruses and other things that we don’t want to spread.”
If you happen to do get sick, regulate how you feel—and know once you want additional assist.
Officers with the College of Michigan Well being-Sparrow say that flu signs have been essentially the most generally reported downside at emergency rooms in current months, however to this point, they have not been overwhelmed.
“It’s going to depend on the person,” says Roelofs. “If it’s someone who’s having any problems, difficulty breathing if they’re having chest pain if they haven’t been able to keep water down or anything of that sort, that that’s something is going to be more of an urgent care setting.”
If you happen to aren’t certain if that you must go to the hospital or not, Sparrow gives a service on their web site that can allow you to verify your signs towards an inventory of automobile choices—from a visit to pressing care, digital appointment, to even a flu shot. You possibly can guide these on the identical webpage.
Docs say getting the vaccine is the perfect factor you are able to do to maintain your self out of the hospital for the remainder of the flu season, nevertheless lengthy that lasts.
“We’re hoping the beginning of spring or early May, this should hopefully calm down,” says Roelofs. “But we can’t guarantee there don’t really seem to be any rules anymore. “
