Update: Multiple States Report High Flu Activity as Season Hits Peak Months

Public health officials in numerous states, most notably California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey are reporting significant flu activity—some exceeding even last year’s severe flu season. California has seen a relatively high number of deaths (42) for this point in the season. Roughly half of those have Top of Formoccurred in the elderly. Flu has been called “widespread” in New Jersey, to the extent that some hospitals there are imposing restrictions on people visiting hospitals. AtlantiCare is barring visitors under 14 years of age completely, while other systems are recommending that anyone who has been exposed to the flu or who is experiencing symptoms wear a mask in hospital waiting rooms and public areas. New Jersey health officials are also recommending that people with flu symptoms go to an urgent care center or their primary care provider instead of the ED (exceptions being children under the age of 5 and adults over age 65). Finally, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health says it has seen an increase of nearly 70% in confirmed flu cases compared with last year, to date; since many people with flu never get tested, it’s likely the actual number of cases is even higher. Officials there are still emploring residents to get vaccinated. JUCM published a pair of original articles on preventing influenza and treating patients who have the flu in our November and December issues, respectively. You can read them, and all past content dealing with influenza, in our archive.