A surge in flu circumstances is straining the Rogue Valley well being care system, together with the Mercy Flights ambulance service. [File photo]
Jackson County has been hit early with flu circumstances which are circulating broadly and overloading the well being care system, together with ambulance companies.
Jackson County Public Well being and the nonprofit medical transportation group Mercy Flights, which operates floor and air companies, issued a warning this week about excessive flu charges.
“All parts of our regional healthcare system are overloaded proper now, and that features Mercy Flights cell healthcare companies,” Mercy Flights CEO Sheila Clough mentioned in a information launch. “We’re at present experiencing increased demand than we’ve got seen for the final yr and a half, and we anticipate that we’re simply forward of this wave. This excessive quantity of affected person wants impacts your complete area, leading to longer response instances.”
She mentioned public well being, hospital and first responder companions are working collectively to switch sufferers to hospitals extra effectively.
“We’re additionally working carefully with our native fireplace company companions to extend capability to reply to 911 calls and transports the place attainable,” Clough mentioned.
He mentioned individuals can take steps to forestall the unfold of contagious ailments just like the flu, which in flip helps emergency medical companies.
After years of coping with the COVID-19 virus, many individuals are bored with precautions.
“I need to acknowledge the feelings that individuals could also be feeling throughout this flu season,” Dr. Leona O’Keefe, well being officer for Jackson County Public Well being, mentioned within the information launch. “It’s comprehensible that individuals are bored with listening to about viruses. Others could really feel indignant or scared. However the viruses are right here, and our particular person choices could make a collective distinction for all of us. Thanks for what you select to do to assist your self, your family members, and your neighbors.”
Influenza A(H3N2) is the dominant influenza pressure circulating this season. That pressure is related to extra extreme circumstances of flu in kids and older individuals, in response to the federal Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Flu exercise in Oregon and throughout the nation has elevated quickly and sooner than in earlier years, public well being officers mentioned.
Whereas seasonal flu viruses are detected year-round in america, circumstances are inclined to spike in October, peak between December and February and proceed by means of Might, public well being officers mentioned.
The flu is a contagious respiratory sickness brought on by influenza viruses. It will probably trigger delicate to extreme sickness and generally loss of life. The flu is totally different from the widespread chilly or “abdomen flu”.
The flu normally comes on out of the blue. Signs could embrace fever, feeling feverish or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nostril, muscle or physique aches, headache, and fatigue. Some individuals, particularly kids, could have vomiting and diarrhea.
Individuals at increased threat of getting significantly ailing from the flu embrace individuals 65 years and older, kids beneath 5 years of age, pregnant girls, and folks with persistent medical circumstances or weakened immune techniques.
To assist stop the unfold of the flu, public well being officers advise:
- get vaccinated Everybody 6 months and older ought to get a flu shot each season, with uncommon exceptions, particularly people who find themselves liable to severe issues from the flu. Flu photographs can be found by means of medical suppliers, pharmacies, or Jackson County Public Well being. To discover a flu shot clinic close to you, go to vacunas.gov/find-vaccines or name 211.
- Put on a masks indoors in public locations throughout flu season.
- Keep house and restrict contact with others if you’re sick, together with staying house from work or college. The CDC recommends that individuals keep house for at the very least 24 hours after their fever is gone, until they’re accessing medical care.
- Cowl your nostril and mouth with a tissue whenever you cough or sneeze.
- Wash your arms with cleaning soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if cleaning soap and water should not obtainable.
- Keep away from touching your eyes, nostril and mouth.
- Clear and disinfect surfaces and objects which will have flu germs on them.
- Get examined for respiratory infections and take flu antiviral medicines in case your physician prescribes them. Antiviral medicines can assist stop severe sickness and hospitalization. The sooner therapy is began, the simpler it will likely be.
Individuals ought to look ahead to the warning indicators of extreme flu sickness and search medical assist immediately if signs develop.
Warning indicators in kids embrace speedy respiratory or shortness of breath, bluish lips or face, ribs twitching with every breath, chest ache, extreme muscle ache, indicators of dehydration comparable to not urinating or not producing tears whereas crying, not being alert or interacting when awake, seizures, fever better than 104 levels in kids or any fever of 100.four levels or better amongst infants beneath three months of age and fever or cough that improves however then returns or worsens, in addition to worsening of persistent medical circumstances.
Warning indicators in adults embrace shortness of breath or problem respiratory, persistent ache or strain within the chest or stomach, persistent dizziness or confusion, incapability to get up, seizures, failure to urinate, extreme weak spot or unsteadiness, and fever or cough that get higher however then come again or worsen, in addition to the worsening of persistent medical circumstances.
Contact Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Observe her on Twitter @VickieAldous.