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  • Louisiana flu season 2019-2020

    It looks like an early flu season in Louisiana

    JIM HANZO
    SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 - 11:21 AM

    MarianVejcik-Getty

    Louisiana Department of Health is seeing an early start to flu activity, even resulting in a school closure in the Lafayette area due to flu cases. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says it is a reminder the time to get the annual flu vaccine is now.

    “It’s a very early start to the flu season for us," Kanter said. "If you ask the CDC, they’ll tell you the formal start to the season is not until early October, but for us in Louisiana, it is right now.”
    ...

    Louisiana Department of Health is seeing an early start to flu activity, even resulting in a school closure in the Lafayette area due to flu cases.  Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says it is a reminder the time to get the annual flu vaccine is now.



    -----------------------------------------------

    Details on a flu outbreak that closed local elementary school

    LOCAL
    by: Neale Zeringue, KLFY

    Posted: Sep 25, 2019 / 11:39 AM CDT / Updated: Sep 25, 2019 / 12:38 PM CDT

    ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY)- The flu season is starting early, and it’s already forced one Acadiana school to hit the reset button.

    Leonville Elementary dismissed students early today, so the entire campus could be cleaned.
    According to the school’s principal, the school will be open tomorrow. That’s because the staff and St. Landry parish inmates spent the afternoon disinfecting the campus.
    ...
    About 13 percent of the school population already sick with the virus, the principal said.

    “Every year is different, but i will say so far this year we are seeing cases earlier,” Stefanski said.
    ...
    ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY)- The flu season is starting early, and it’s already forced one Acadiana school to hit the reset button. Leonville Elementary dismissed students early today, so t…


    --------------------------------------------------------

    Influenza Surveillance ReportAugust 2019

     Influenza activity has begun to increase in the last 2 weeks.
     During the month of August, the state public health laboratory identified multiple positive samples of influenza
    including: A/H1N1, A/H3 and B/Victoria.

    ...


    The Louisiana Department of Health protects and promotes health and ensures access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all citizens of the State of Louisiana.
    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

  • #2
    Flu-like symptoms prompts closure of Baton Rouge school; other districts on high alert
    ...
    By Spencer Soicher | October 1, 2019 at 4:06 PM CDT - Updated October 2 at 9:46 PM

    BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) -
    ...
    The Brighton School, a small K-12 school in Baton Rouge, has had 38% of its high school students affected by the flu or flu-like symptoms...

    “The strand of flu that some of our students were getting diagnosed with, it’s a pretty tough thing,” said Head of School Kenneth Henderson.
    ...
    Dr. Michelle Flechas, a pediatrician at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, says they’ve been getting cases of influenza B for the last two weeks.

    “This time of the year, we typically see a lot of strep throat, we see a lot of stomach viruses, a lot of runny noses that can lead to sinus infections, but typically not flu,” she said. “Typically, flu season is supposed to hit between January and February when flu peaks, but this year, we’ve had an early outbreak.”
    ...
    A school in Baton Rouge will remain closed through Friday, Oct. 4 in order to safeguard students and staff from the flu.
    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

    Comment


    • #3
      Influenza Surveillance Report – September 2019

       Influenza activity increased through the month of September.
       During the month of September, the state public health laboratory identified multiple positive samples of
      influenza including: A/H1N1 and B/Victoria.
       Based on virologic surveillance data, B/Victoria is primarily circulating in younger children, A/H1N1 is more
      predominant in older children and adults.

      ...



      The Louisiana Department of Health protects and promotes health and ensures access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all citizens of the State of Louisiana.
      "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
      -Nelson Mandela

      Comment


      • #4
        Flu season starts unusually early in Louisiana

        Typically, our peak time is Christmas to Mardi Gras.

        Author: Meg Farris
        Published: 6:41 PM CDT October 23, 2019
        Updated: 6:41 PM CDT October 23, 2019

        NEW ORLEANS — Doctors don't know why we are seeing more cases of flu in Louisiana than in any other state.

        The type of flu spreading in Louisiana is called Victoria B...

        Ochnsner Pediatrician Dr. Mike Wasserman is on the front lines of flu prevention and has seen to odd trend first hand.

        "We're seeing a lot of influenza type B,” he said. “It started in August, but the frequency and the number of people that have had it has increased dramatically in the last 10 days.
        ...
        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
        -Nelson Mandela

        Comment


        • #5
          Louisiana still showing high levels of flu cases, according to CDC

          By Maranda Whittington | November 4, 2019 at 9:28 AM CST - Updated November 4 at 9:45 AM

          SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) -Flu season is already underway and Louisiana is still the only state with the highest levels of flu concentration, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

          “Overall this year isn’t as bad as last year but it’s still early," said Dr. Ajit Alexander. The thing with the flu is it’s unpredictable, so it may look okay now but it can definitely get worse. So it’s always better to prepare for the worse."

          Dr. Alexander is an emergency and family medicine doctor at Ochsner LSU in Shreveport and says this year’s flu season will last all the way until May.
          ...
          The state health department has been offering free one-day clinics for people to get their flu shot. You can view the list with all the locations, dates and times, HERE.
          ...
          https://www.ksla.com/2019/11/04/loui...according-cdc/
          --------------------------------------------

          Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses
          Surveillance Report

          2019-2020 Season

          Week 43, Ending October 26, 2019
          ...
          Current Week
          Predominant Subtype
          B/Vic


          Current Month
          Predominant Subtype
          B/Vic

          ...

          ILI Activity:
          In Louisiana, during week 43, 5.8% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like illness
          Surveillance Network (ILINet) were due to influenza-like illness (ILI). This percentage is above the regional baseline of
          3.8%. ILI is defined as fever >100?F and cough and/or sore throat in the absence of another diagnosis.
          A total of 97 sites reported ILI data for week 43.
          ...

          http://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/Survei...uenza_1943.pdf
          Last edited by Pathfinder; December 7, 2019, 09:11 PM.
          "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
          -Nelson Mandela

          Comment


          • #6
            Carencro Heights Elementary closing Friday in Lafayette as flu outbreak continues

            BY KATIE GAGLIANO | STAFF WRITER PUBLISHED NOV 7, 2019 AT 11:34 AM | UPDATED NOV 7, 2019 AT 5:33 PM

            Carencro Heights Elementary will close Friday as the school system fights an influenza outbreak at the elementary school campus.

            The Lafayette Parish School System announced the closure Thursday morning after 85 confirmed cases of the flu were reported, up from 57 confirmed cases Tuesday, according to Jennifer Gardner, chief administrative officer for the Lafayette Parish School System. The sick students make up about 13% of the school's student population.
            ...
            Dozens more children were reported absent from Carencro Heights Elementary throughout the week, so it’s possible more children have contracted the flu than have been recorded. If a child hasn’t been diagnosed by a physician, it’s difficult to know, she said.
            ...
            "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
            -Nelson Mandela

            Comment


            • #7
              Report: Lafayette, New Orleans have highest flu rates in the nation

              BY KEVIN ALLMAN Published Nov 11, 2019 at 4:30 pm | Updated Nov 11, 2019 at 4:40 pm

              Louisiana has the highest number of flu infections in the country, and Lafayette and New Orleans are the two cities with the highest incidence of flu, according to the Walgreens Flu Index and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

              The drugstore chain compiles its statistics using the number of antivirus prescriptions it fills to treat the flu. According to that metric, Lafayette and New Orleans are the No. 1 and No. 2 markets for flu prescriptions, with all of the Top 10 metro areas, except Las Vegas, being along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida.
              ...

              ----------------------------------------------------------------

              Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses
              Surveillance Report

              2019-2020 Season
              Week 44, Ending November 2, 2019

              ...
              Current Week
              Predominant Subtype
              B/Vic


              Current Month
              Predominant Subtype
              B/Vic


              ...
              ILI Activity:
              In Louisiana, during week 44, 7.1% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like illness
              Surveillance Network (ILINet) were due to influenza-like illness (ILI). This percentage is above the regional baseline of
              3.8%. ILI is defined as fever >100?F and cough and/or sore throat in the absence of another diagnosis.
              ...
              "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
              -Nelson Mandela

              Comment


              • #8
                Louisiana leads country in flu-related activities, CDC reports

                By Rilwan Balogun | November 15, 2019 at 4:26 PM CST - Updated November 15 at 4:26 PM

                NEW ORLEANS, La. (WVUE) - Doctors at the Mid-City Ochsner Urgent Care say right now they’re seeing 5 to 15 patients sit in the waiting chairs daily with flu-like symptoms.
                ...
                It’s a similar scene at Dr. Greg Fernandez’s Bayou Urgent Care in Chalmette. "We'll typically see 30 patients, most of those will have flu like illness,” Fernandez said. “Probably a good 70 percent will test positive for flu."
                ...
                “We are seeing primarily B strains of flu in Louisiana,” said Dr. Fred Lopez with LSU Health Infectious Diseases. “Other parts of the country are seeing A strain.”

                Lopez says it is unclear why Louisiana is experiencing so many flu-related cases.

                "Nobody really knows,” Lopez said. “Did it start here for example? Do we have some outbreaks that started in this area and spread elsewhere?"
                ...
                "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                -Nelson Mandela

                Comment


                • #9
                  Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses
                  Surveillance Report
                  2019-2020 Season

                  Week 45, Ending November 9, 2019
                  ...
                  Current Week
                  Predominant Subtype
                  B/Vic


                  Current Month
                  Predominant Subtype
                  B/Vic

                  ...
                  ILI Activity:
                  In Louisiana, during week 45, 8.9% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like illness
                  Surveillance Network (ILINet) were due to influenza-like illness (ILI). This percentage is above the regional baseline of
                  3.8%. ILI is defined as fever >100?F and cough and/or sore throat in the absence of another diagnosis.

                  A total of 101 sites reported ILI data for week 45.
                  ...
                  "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                  -Nelson Mandela

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Flu season off to a fast start, driven by unexpected virus, CDC says

                    The strain of influenza virus circulating widely now doesn't usually hit until Spring.

                    DEC. 7, 201901:32
                    Dec. 7, 2019, 2:11 PM CST
                    By Associated Press
                    ...
                    The last flu season to rev up this early was in 2003-2004 — a bad one. Some experts think the early start may mean a lot of suffering is in store, but others say it’s too early to tell.
                    ...
                    Louisiana was the first state to really get hit hard, with doctors there saying they began seeing large numbers of flu-like illnesses in October.

                    Children’s Hospital New Orleans has already seen more flu cases this fall than it saw all of last winter, said Dr. Toni Gross, the hospital’s chief of emergency medicine. Last month was the busiest ever at the hospital’s emergency department. Officials had to set up a triage system and add extra shifts, Gross said.

                    “It is definitely causing symptoms that will put you in bed for a week,” including fever, vomiting and diarrhea. But the hospital has not had any deaths and is not seeing many serious complications, she said.
                    ...

                    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                    -Nelson Mandela

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Aggressive flu season means you should get your flu shot!

                      Protect yourself. Protect your loved ones. Stop the spread.


                      December 12, 2019

                      With Louisiana continuing to rank among the highest rates of influenza cases in the country, health officials urge people to get the flu shot before they get sick.

                      This health advice takes on further importance given a recent study showing 37% of adults in the U.S. still intend not to get a flu shot. The study was conducted by researchers at NORC at the University of Chicago.

                      Louisiana began seeing increased levels of flu activity in late August and currently, the Louisiana Department of Health reports that flu activity is widespread in the state, with almost three times as much activity as the regional baseline.

                      Dr. Frank Welch, immunization medical director for the Office of Public Health, said reports from clinicians throughout Louisiana suggest only 25% of healthy adults in the state have gotten a flu shot this year.

                      “This year’s flu season began in October, much sooner than expected. It’s only December now and we’re already close to matching the peak of last year’s flu season, which was one of the worst in years, and the end of flu season is months and months away,” Dr. Welch said. “Protect yourself and your loved ones as you gather for the holidays by getting your flu shot.”

                      Flu shots are available at any parish health unit throughout flu season at no cost to the patient. Local pharmacies, clinics, doctors’ offices and federally qualified (community) health centers also will offer flu shots throughout the season. Check ldh.la.gov/fighttheflu for a flu shot provider near you.

                      During the 2018-2019 flu season, there were approximately 15,000 to 16,000 hospitalizations and 1,550 deaths in Louisiana.

                      ...
                      The Louisiana Department of Health protects and promotes health and ensures access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all citizens of the State of Louisiana.
                      "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                      -Nelson Mandela

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Home page: http://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/1591

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                        • #13
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                          • #14
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                            • #15
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