Louisville doctors urge prevention as flu cases surge after the holidays

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As flu cases surge across Kentucky, including Louisville, doctors are giving guidance on how to protect your family.

The state reported its first pediatric death from the flu Tuesday, a child from Kenton County who had not received a flu vaccine.

Now, health experts are stressing the importance of vaccines and protection against the virus.

"We have seen a tremendous amount of influenza, specifically influenza A, over the last couple of weeks," Dr. Heather Felton, Norton Children's pediatrician, said.

The children's hospital in Louisville reported about 1,500 pediatric flu cases just last week.

"It only seems to be increasing probably due to recent holiday travel and holiday gatherings and things," Felton said.

Parents should watch for very high fevers, difficulty breathing, and fatigue that prevents a child from eating or drinking. If those symptoms appear, it's time to see a doctor.

"There is an anti-viral option called Tamiflu that is available," said Felton. "It's not recommended in every case, but if you are interested in that treatment it has to be started within 48 hours of symptom onset."

According to federal data, 288 children died from the flu last season across the country, and nearly all of them were unvaccinated.

"It is not too late to get your flu shot now, because we're seeing this big increase in cases right now, we'll probably see more when kids go back into school and so they'll be able to develop some protection for that," Felton said.

Doctors stress that the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, and this year's shot is performing well.

"This year's flu vaccine has been pretty effective, especially in kids and especially in preventing those severe complications," said Felton. "So it is safe and effective, and I do recommend it for everybody who is six months of age and older."

While it takes a few weeks for the flu shot to start working, there is still time to get it as the flu season typically doesn't wrap up in the area until March or April.

Last season, the Louisville health department reported more than 20,000 cases and 36 flu-related deaths, between September and May, with one of the largest spikes recorded in December.

Flu can quickly spread, with some age groups in danger of experiencing devastating effects, especially infants and young children, people 65 and over, and people with compromised immune systems.

Here's what you can do to protect yourself and others:

Avoid contact with sick people.
Frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water.
Cover your cough or sneeze.
Wear a mask in public or crowded areas, especially if you are at increased risk for severe illness.
Stay at home if you are sick to prevent spreading illness to others.
Get a flu shot each year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects there will be about 2.9 million flu cases this season, with roughly 30,000 hospitalizations and approximately 1,200 deaths nationwide.

Doctors watching flu season closely as subclade K variant circulates

Flu cases increasing in Louisville with nearly 940 cases since September

Whooping cough cases surge in Kentucky, reaching highest numbers since 2012

Flu cases rise in Louisville as people gather for the holidays

Local doctors prepare for busy sick season of flu, COVID, RSV cases