No flu outbreak here, officials say

Deepa Bharath

Local hospitals have not faced the wrath of the flu season yet.

Hoag Hospital Presbyterian has seen “an average number” of

visitors to its emergency room, said spokeswoman Laura Berger.

“We haven’t seen a big difference between this year and last year

or any other year,” she said.

The hospital does not give out flu vaccines, Berger said.

“We haven’t seen long waits in the ER either,” she said. “What we

know about the so-called severe flu outbreak is from what we hear

about in the news.”

That’s because Orange County hasn’t been bogged down yet by the

nasty influenza virus, said Tricia Arcelona, spokeswoman for the

Orange County Healthcare Agency.

As of Friday, there were 136 cases countywide, she said.

“That number is bound to rise in the coming days and weeks,”

Arcelona said.

But there is no way to confirm this year’s numbers with last

year’s because flu is not one of the diseases that is required to be

reported, she said.

“But based on the voluntary reporting we have right now, it is

clear that flu has struck earlier than usual this year,” she said.

More than 50% of those infected are children below the age of 5,

Arcelona said. There have been no deaths related to the flu in Orange

County so far, she said.

The influenza virus attacks the respiratory tract in humans and is

different from a cold. It usually comes on suddenly and may include

symptoms such as fever, headache, exhaustion, dry cough, sore throat

and body aches.

The flu is spread or transmitted when a person who has the disease

coughs, sneezes, or speaks, sending the virus into the air, which in

turn is inhaled by others. Influenza may also be spread when a person

touches a surface that has flu viruses on it -- a door handle, for

instance -- and then touches his or her nose or mouth.

Influenza is caused by a virus, so antibiotics such as penicillin

don’t work to cure it. The best way to prevent the flu, officials

say, is to get flu shots each fall, before the flu season starts.

County health clinics still have an ample supply of vaccine,

Arcelona said.

Those who wish to get flu shots should call the healthcare

agency’s referral line at (800) 564-8448, she said.

The best way to stay healthy is, however, to take preventive

measures, Arcelona said.

“It’s important to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze,” she

said. “Wash your hands. And it’s always advisable for those who are

infected with the flu to stay home.”