Flu season hitting its peak in Iowa
By Molly Montag, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Sioux City-area residents, and those around the state, are still not free from the flu bug, health officials say.
Nursing Director Linda Drey of the Woodbury County Health Department said the flu activity in Woodbury County and in the state is at a peak level, but noted that's not unusual.
The Iowa Health Department reported this week that more than 220 people had been hospitalized with the flu, up from 84 last year. Officials in South Dakota report 9 have died and 281 people have been hospitalized.
Until a few weeks ago, Drey said, young adults and children were the age groups contracting the highest number of flu cases. Iowa Health officials announced last week that more older Iowans were starting to contract the flu and that school absences had increased.
The flu season, although it has been hitting Iowa harder than usual this year, often peaks in March, so Drey said it's not too late to get a flu vaccine.
Drey said people who have had the flu this year still might want to consider that shot, because there is more than one type of flu going around.
"The most common types of flu are Influenza A and Influenza B, which can hit the same person in one flu season.
We're seeing a little bit more of it this year, so it's not impossible to get hit with Influenza twice," she said.
This year's flu strain has manifested itself through the normal symptoms, Drey said, including aching all over and upper respiratory problems. She said people suffering from vomiting, diarrhea and stomach ache are not suffering from Influenza, which is an upper respiratory disorder.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Nursing Director Linda Drey of the Woodbury County Health Department said the flu activity in Woodbury County and in the state is at a peak level, but noted that's not unusual.
The Iowa Health Department reported this week that more than 220 people had been hospitalized with the flu, up from 84 last year. Officials in South Dakota report 9 have died and 281 people have been hospitalized.
Until a few weeks ago, Drey said, young adults and children were the age groups contracting the highest number of flu cases. Iowa Health officials announced last week that more older Iowans were starting to contract the flu and that school absences had increased.
The flu season, although it has been hitting Iowa harder than usual this year, often peaks in March, so Drey said it's not too late to get a flu vaccine.
Drey said people who have had the flu this year still might want to consider that shot, because there is more than one type of flu going around.
"The most common types of flu are Influenza A and Influenza B, which can hit the same person in one flu season.
We're seeing a little bit more of it this year, so it's not impossible to get hit with Influenza twice," she said.
This year's flu strain has manifested itself through the normal symptoms, Drey said, including aching all over and upper respiratory problems. She said people suffering from vomiting, diarrhea and stomach ache are not suffering from Influenza, which is an upper respiratory disorder.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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