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Fever. Achy muscles. Feeling weak.
These are telltale signs of the flu, which is rampant throughout the country this winter including here in California.
All U.S. states except Hawaii are reporting widespread flu activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control. For the week ending Jan. 13, the proportion of people seeing their health care provider for flu-like symptoms was 6.3% the highest percentage recorded since the 2003-04 season.
Flu activity is widespread in the state. As of Jan. 13, 74 residents under the age of 65 have died from the flu this season, California Department of Public Health reported in an update last week. At the same time last year that number was 14. Only flu deaths in people less than 65 years old are reported to the state.
No flu deaths have been reported in Alameda County to date, according to county Public Health Department spokeswoman Sherri Willis.
“We have seen increased visits to emergency departments, hospitals and urgent care which is pretty typical across the state,” Willis said. “We are encouraging people to get a flu shot — ‘it’s not too late to vaccinate’ is our chant.”
Willis added that although this year’s flu vaccine is less effective than in years past, “it does provide some protection.”
“There is plenty of vaccine in Alameda County; we’re not experiencing any shortages,” she said.
“The rest of the preventative measures people can take are standard germ abatement precautions,” Willis continued. “Stay home if you’re sick, drink plenty of fluids, cover your cough and your sneeze with a tissue or your arm, and stay fairly isolated from other members of your family if you can do that.”
County health officials have also been advising residents on when they should go the emergency room.
Typical symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, headache, muscle ache and weakness; a sore throat and runny nose can also be present.
But more serious symptoms in children include troubled breathing, a “blueish or grayish pallor to the skin,” rash and an unwillingness to take fluids, Willis said. In adults these include shortness of breath, abdominal pain and sudden dizziness or confusion.
“Those may be flu complications that you really want to be aware of,” Willis said. “But if you’re in doubt, call your doctor first before you dial 9-1-1 or definitely before you go to an emergency department. The worst place you could actually be is in an emergency department unless it’s really necessary because you’ll be exposed to even more germs.”
Federal officials say flu activity is expected to continue for several more weeks.
A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for everyone six months of age and older. The nasal spray vaccine is not available this season, so all flu vaccines are being administered as shots.
To find the nearest location administering flu vaccines, visit https://vaccinefinder.org. For more information on this flu season, visit the Alameda County Public Health Department website at www.acphd.org.
