Jan 22, 2008 4:58 pm US/Central
Widespread Flu Outbreaks Reported In Texas
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Despite repeated warnings for people to get their flu shots, many are finding out the hard way that they should have listened to their doctors.
The peak of flu season hasn't been reached yet and Texas is one of four states in the United States classified as having widespread flu outbreaks - Colorado, Hawaii and New York are the other three.
Doctors across North Texas say they've already seen an increase of patients with flu-like symptoms. Now they're encouraging those who haven't already gotten their flu shots to do so.
While doctors generally begin giving flu shots in October, they say they see cases of the flu up until May.
Jonatan Olivares is like many other North Texans. He says the reason he doesn't usually get a flu shot is, "Because I usually don't get sick." Unfortunately this year Dr. Cynthia Dott broke the news to him that he has the flu.
February is typically the month when doctors see an increase in influenza cases. This year, in North Texas, the trend doesn't seem to be changing.
"When we initially started back in November with an occasional scattered flu, we'd maybe have four or five-percent would be positive, now almost a third of our tests will be positive for Influenza A and/or B," said Dr. Don Billahunty, Medical Director of PrimaCare.
Billahunty, who oversees 11 PrimaCare Centers, is reminding folks that they still have time to avoid getting the virus. "The best thing you can do right now is to go out and get the flu vaccine," he said.
It takes at least two weeks for the patient to achieve full protection from the virus.
A common misconception is that the shot will actually make a person sick. "A lot of people are not getting it [the vaccine] because I think they're afraid of getting the flu after getting the shot," says Dr. Shiwalia Rai of City Doctor Urgent Care.
Now that Olivares is sick, he says he's learned his lesson and will be getting the flu shot every year. "This morning when I was about to get up for work I couldn't even get out of the bed."
North Texas doctors say they've also seen an increase in the number of pneumonia patients. There is a vaccine available for pneumonia that only has to be taken every 10 years.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments