Pam Marino here, with news that the “super flu” is officially here and actively spreading in California. The California Department of Public Health confirmed its presence on Tuesday, Jan. 13. I found out this morning that it was picked up in testing here in Monterey County as early as last month, in about 15 percent of cases.
The very contagious strain, a mutation of the seasonal influenza A called H3N2 subclade K, has made its way west from the East Coast and other parts of the world, bringing misery with it.
This strain reportedly packs a wallop—described by some as feeling like they were hit by a truck—with high fevers, chills, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, sinus pressure and fatigue. Sometimes people experience a single symptom, and many times they experience a combination.
Unfortunately, this season all strains of the flu appear to be hitting the very young hard. CDPH officials are reporting that there’s a higher test positivity rate for children than adults. Two children have died in California since the start of the flu season last fall. So far 81 adults have died—there are dangers for both the very young and the elderly, as well as pregnant women.
We are not defenseless—there is something each of us can do to protect ourselves and others.
“The most important thing we can do to protect ourselves from influenza or the super flu is to vaccinate,” says Dr. Orlando Rodriguez, medical director of Salinas Valley Health’s mobile clinic, as well as chief medical officer of Ambulatory Services. “And it’s absolutely not too late to get vaccinated.”
Rodriguez stresses that the vaccine is safe, and although the current vaccine formula is not an exact match to the super flu strain—it’s approximately 30-percent effective at preventing someone from getting the flu—scientific evidence shows it will protect people from complications of the flu which could send them to a hospital or worse, end in death.
The flu vaccine may also lessen the severity of the symptoms—a clear benefit in the face of a strain that is causing harsh symptoms—and it may shorten the duration. The super flu has a reputation for hanging on for longer than other strains.
Most flu vaccine clinics run through fall, but because they want people to stay healthy and stay clear of the hospital, SVH officials added a new free clinic from 1-4pm Sunday, Jan. 25, at Northridge Mall, 796 Northridge Drive, Salinas. The County of Monterey Health Department added a clinic from 10am-1pm Saturday, Jan. 24, at Gavilan View Middle School, 18250 Van Buren Ave., Salinas.
You don’t have to wait until then or travel to Salinas if you live elsewhere—free vaccines are available to many people at pharmacies everywhere.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, Rodriguez says it’s important to seek medical attention and get tested, so doctors can treat you appropriately. There are prescription medications that can help if diagnosed early.
And as always, the advice is to stay home if you feel sick to protect others in the community.
Stay safe, everyone.