Cold symptoms are usually milder than the flu. Body and muscle aches are more common with the flu. Wochit
MUNCIE, Ind. — Delaware County hasn't been immune to the rising cases of flu this season.
As of Jan. 12, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital reported 76 flu intakes, on pace to quadruple the previous January that saw a total of 65 for the entire month. The hospital also recorded 46 cases of the flu in December 2017, more than doubling its number from the previous year.
Delaware County Health Department administrator Jammie Bane said the number of individuals reporting symptoms, both county and statewide, is significantly higher in comparison to this time last year.
"Delaware County (and Indiana overall) is seeing widespread flu activity," Bane said. "Unfortunately, Indiana has already also seen a number of deaths attributable to influenza, and we still have a number of months to go of this flu season."
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A weekly report sent out by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) showed a reported 50 influenza-associated deaths in Indiana as of Jan. 12 for the 2017-18 flu season.
As for pinpointing where those deaths have occurred, Greta Sanderson, communications specialist at ISDH, said in an email response that "federal and state privacy laws prevent us from reporting locations of flu deaths unless the location has more than five such deaths." She said, as of Monday, there were no Indiana counties that reached beyond this tally.
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In these state health reports, Indiana is broken down into 10 districts. Delaware, Blackford, Jay, Randolph and Henry counties fall into the sixth district. The report revealed that of all cases in emergency rooms, 4.33 percent of patients in the sixth district were reporting an influenza-like illness. (These cases might not be confirmed as the flu.) That is a slight bump from the 3.66 percent reported the previous week, and just below the state's average of 5.63 percent.
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In combating the flu this season, Bane said, "Prevention is critical and the basics are still what apply today."
Prevention tips include:
- Washing hands often with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if the previous method is unavailable.
- Covering your cough and sneeze.
- Staying home from work or school when you're sick.
- Avoiding crowds and places where flu exposure could occur.
- Considering a flu shot.
Bane said the local health department has administered 125 doses of the flu vaccine so far this season, and it still has "plenty in stock." He added that the vaccine is also available at local pharmacies, immediate care clinics and doctor's offices. For more information, call the health department clinic at 765-587-0670.
Audrey Kirby is a digital producer at The Star Press. Follow her on Twitter @ajanekirby, and email her story ideas: ajkirby@muncie.gannett.com.
The best way to avoid the flu is by getting vaccinated, but there's more you can do. Stephanie Dickrell, sdickrell@stcloudtimes.com