Louisiana is seeing the highest activity level of flu and COVID cases in the nation. Ochsner Medical Director Dr. Sandra Kemmerly says the seasonal flu shouldn’t be taken lightly and the best protection is getting vaccinated.
“They’re safe. They work. They’re effective. It may not completely prevent someone from getting influenza or COVID but it certainly cuts down on the more serious side effects that result in hospitalization and death in some cases.”
According to the Department of Health, emergency room visits in the state between December 17 through 23 last year were at 14 percent – the highest in more than a decade and double the national average.
Kemmerly says flu activity has passed any of it’s highest points in the past five years and we still are not at the peak of the season. She says Ochsner rates show an increase on flu-like respiratory illnesses.
“The state’s number of flu positivity have gone down a little bit over previous weeks but our Ochsner internal data, we continue to have over 30 percent positivity rate of the flu test that we perform.”
There were 357 new COVID patients and 374 flu patients admitted in the state for the week ending December 30th, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Kemmerly says with the JN dot 1 variant, can cause fever, chills, body aches, respiratory symptoms and coughs. She urges residents to practice respiratory etiquette by washing their hands frequently and…
“Try to avoid crowded places. Stay home if you’re sick. If you develop a cough, cough in the crooks of your elbow not on your hands where you may then go shake somebody hand and transmit the virus that way.”
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