Monday, January 14, 2013
Inova hospitals say flu arrived sooner, is more widespread, causing spike in number of patients visiting emergency rooms.
While the Centers for Disease Control counts Virginia as one of the states seeing a spike in flu cases, flu is not a reportable disease, so hard numbers are difficult to come by. But Inova, the largest hospital system in Northern Virginia, is seeing a spike in the number of flu patients visiting their emergency rooms, a spokesman said. And across the area, it's the same story — three times as many — a county spokesman said. "We, like everyone else in the Metro region, have experienced an uptick over the past four weeks in both outpatient visits to our EDs [emergency rooms] as well as in-patient placements for those with flu-related complications," said Tony Raker, public relations director for Inova Healthcare Systems in Northern Virginia…
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Twenty four states reporting high flu activity, including Virginia.
The rate of Reston-area residents with the flu was low to moderate in mid-December, but according to Google Flu Trends it has spiked to high and is heading toward intense. The Centers for Disease Control is reporting high levels of flu-like-illness across the country, and though some areas have reached their peak others are still on the upswing. Flu season typically peaks in January and February. Forty seven states are reporting widespread geographic flu activity, including Virginia. Twenty four states including Virginia are reporting high levels of flu-like-illness, while 16 are reporting moderate levels. While CDC information is based on actual data from previous weeks, Google Flu Trends is based on people searching for terms related …
Hospital curtails visitation hours, restricts visitors to those 18 and older.
The flu epidemic sweeping the country is definitely being felt in Northern Virginia, with hospital emergency rooms reporting a spike in patients coming in with flu-like symptoms. In the wake of the increase in flu cases in Northern Virginia, Inova hospitals are putting restrictions on visitors, the hospital system announced Friday in a news release. "As part of our vision to optimize the health and well-being of each individual we serve, Inova hospitals will be instituting specific visitation measures in response to continued regional Influenza infection," said spokesman Tony Raker, in the release. "These measures, designed to protect patients, visitors and staff from exposure to influenza, are in effect system wide at all Inova hospital…
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The CDC established National Influenza Vaccination Week to remind people that it's not too late to get a flu shot.
The flu season is off to an earlier-than-usual start nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Activity is most intense in the south-central and southeast of the country right now," the a CDC report released Monday says. "Most of the viruses characterized so far this season have been H3N2 viruses; which are typically associated with more severe seasons." The CDC established Dec. 2-8 as National Influenza Vaccination Week. The week is highlighted to remind people to get flu vaccinations before flu season. Last week, a Mayo Clinic report suggested people at risk for heart disease who get flu shots reduce their risk for heart attacks. Not Too Late, Even After Thanksgiving The CDC established this week to …
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Find out where to get vaccinated for influenza and what strains will be popular.
Although flu season "peaks" in January and February, flu season is starting now in Northern Virginia and will last through May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Northern Virginia has low levels of flu infections right now, but infection rates are slightly higher in Washington, D.C., Flu Trends data shows. The trends are based on search engine data related to the flu and its symptoms. “The past three years have demonstrated that influenza is predictably unpredictable,” said Howard Koh, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at a news conference last week. “When it comes to flu, we can’t look to the past to predict the future. Stay healthy — get vaccinated.” …
HarleyGirl
6:56 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I am a Nuse Practitioner with MinuteClinic and we still have flu vacine! We have locations in Herndon (Elden Street), Greenbrier (Lee Jackson Highway), and Lansdowne Town Center in Leesburg. See the MinuteClinic website for more locations in Northern VA. Supplies are running very low so get it soon! more ›