Local doctors closely watching new flu virus, potential impact on flu season

BULLITT COUNTY, Ky. (WDRB) — With the holidays approaching, health officials are warning parents to brace for what could be a difficult flu season.

Pharmacies in Bullitt County are already seeing an uptick in patients as seasonal illnesses begin to spread, even though the dominant flu strain has not yet arrived.

“I'm seeing a lot of steroid packs and inhalers to help them breathe, help with coughing — seeing a lot of that right now,” said Rebecca Fletcher, a pharmacist in Bullitt County.

Doctors say a new flu strain recently detected in Japan has drawn attention, but it is too early to know whether it will reach the United States. For now, most positive tests locally are showing influenza A.

“There are two different kinds of influenza A that circulate every year,” said Dr. Kris Bryant, with Norton Healthcare. “Most people who are tested and are positive are infected with influenza A.”

Health officials stress that even when flu strains emerge after vaccines are produced, the flu shot still provides strong protection and generally leads to milder illness in people who contract the virus.

Dr. Thomas Cunningham said parents should watch for worsening symptoms.

“Once we start having symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or if you cannot keep down medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen, that is when we need to see you in the ER,” Cunningham said.

Last flu season, 250 children died from the virus and 89% of them were not vaccinated, according to Bryant.

While it’s too early to predict how the season will unfold, doctors say flu cases often surge after holiday gatherings. Other illnesses are already circulating, including strep throat.

“Over the weekend there was a good handful of kids that tested positive for strep,” Fletcher said. “I have people that just can't seem to shake whatever it is they’re having.”

Adults, too, are crowding pharmacies.

“I have adults right now in the waiting room who are waiting for antibiotics — so it's just everybody,” said Fletcher.

Flu shots typically provide protection through most of the season, which is expected to go through February, but health officials say it takes about two weeks for immunity to build.

Their advice for avoiding infection remains consistent: wash your hands and stay home when sick.

Most people who come down with the flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For information about the flu vaccine, symptoms, signs of worsening symptoms, treatment and more, click here for guidance from the CDC.

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