Louisiana hit hard by flu
By Holly Duchmann Staff Writer
Posted Dec 16, 2017 at 10:02 PM
Updated Dec 16, 2017 at 10:02 PM
Louisiana has been hit especially hard this flu season and is experiencing some of the highest numbers of the virus that officials have seen for December.
Dr. Frank Welch, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals medical director for state immunizations, said each year the only thing he can predict about the flu is that it?s going to be unpredictable.
?That being said, I cannot remember in 25 years when Louisiana was first in the nation this early (in the season) in flu cases,? Welch said. ?It is very surprising to see this early in December. Louisiana leading the nation with widespread flu activity.?
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Currently, the level of flu activity is over 5 percent, meaning an estimated one in 20 doctor visits have been for flu-like symptoms. In past Decembers, that rate has normally been at 2 percent, Welch said.
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"It's terrible," says Dr. Frank Welch, Medical Director for Immunizations for Louisiana, who says it is widespread throughout the bayou state.
"We are the absolute worst in the country, right now. We have very, very high flu rates and that's brand new from last week. Just about 1 out of every 20 emergency room visits or doctor room visits in the state of Louisiana is for flu like symptoms."
Welch says the flu-like activity is high. He also says it seems to be coming earlier this year, where as normally it hits in February
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