Influenza Cases Rising in Eastern Idaho
Cases of influenza are on the rise in eastern Idaho, with more reported cases during this flu season than in the previous one. The number of adults receiving the flu vaccination, however, is not increasing. The increase in cases comes at a time when the whole country is facing its worst flu season in at least 15 years.
At the peak of this flu season, there was a 9.8% weekly percent ILI, the highest since the 2009-2010 season. School closures due to an influenza and RSV outbreak in Butte County have highlighted the ease with which respiratory illnesses can spread in crowded settings.
Despite the severity of this flu season, over half of Idahoans are not getting their flu shots annually. The Division of Public Health reported that 67.9% of adults did not get vaccinated in the most recent year with data available. Health officials stress the importance of getting the flu shot to reduce the spread of influenza and lessen the severity of symptoms for those who do get sick.
Various measures can be taken to prevent the spread of influenza, such as washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and improving indoor ventilation. The goal is to keep individuals healthy and prevent the virus from spreading to vulnerable populations. As of now, Idaho has seen 40 influenza-associated deaths this flu season.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
