Flu-like illnesses prevalent in Cache Valley

It is not your imagination if you have noticed a lot of sick people recently in Cache Valley, said Leona Goodsell, Deputy Nursing Director for the Bear River Health Department

“We’re seeing a lot of strains of diseases that cause respiratory-type symptoms,” she said.

The Health Department monitors the two Instacare sites in Cache Valley. Those sites record the number of people who come in with influenza-like illnesses.

“We include all patients if they either have a cough or sore throat and a fever greater than 100 degrees. They tally the numbers in each age category for us, as to how many they see during the week compared to the total number of illnesses in the week.”

She said some weeks in December the percentage of flu-like illnesses doubled.

“We are definitely seeing a lot more flu-like activity in Cache Valley, and have been for a couple of weeks.”

She said recently there were eight cases severe enough to require hospitalization and one patient, between the ages of 40-64, died.

“We still recommend people get immunized and we have flu shots at the health department. It takes about two weeks to get protection from the flu shot. For those showing symptoms please cover your cough, stay home when you are sick and wash your hands.”

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!