DFW’s flu season in full swing

The flu season is here, and for many it is hitting with little warning.

“The hallmark is the abrupt nature of the onset,” said Martin Jones, regional medical director for CareNow, which has 24 clinics in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“There are many stories of the exact hour that symptoms began,” Jones said. “People will say ‘I was feeling fine and then it felt like it I was hit by a truck.’”

In a report released Friday, Tarrant County Public Health found the number of flu-like illnesses reported from patient visits jumped from 6.9 percent to 9.8 percent for week of Nov. 30 to Dec. 6. Flu activity is considered widespread in the county and the percentage of positive flu tests increased from 25.6 percent to 33.2 percent during the same time.

Earlier this week, two adult deaths were reported in Tarrant County and emergency rooms as well as doctor’s offices have filled with patients. Dallas also had its first flu death last week.

Statewide, flu activity increased to widespread and there were two pediatric deaths during the week ending Dec. 6. A 12-year-old with no underlying health conditions died in the Houston area. The child also tested positive for strep and had received a flu shot. A 12-year-old in the Harlingen area died from the flu with underlying health conditions. The child also tested positive for strep had received a flu shot two weeks before dying.

“In these two cases, the children had co-occurring bacterial infections, a situation which poses an increased risk of complications from the flu,” said Texas State Health Services spokesman Chris Van Deusen.

The flu kills anywhere between 4,000 and 50,000 people a year in the United States each year. Last year, there were 13 reported adult flu deaths in Tarrant County and one pediatric flu death. Dallas had 55 reported adult flu deaths last year and three pediatric cases.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that this year’s flu vaccine is only partially effective and the U.S. may be facing a difficult flu season.

One of the flu strains of H3N2, which is circulating widely, has mutated slightly and the shot doesn’t provide protection for that strain.

Both Jones and Van Duesen said the flu shot is still best step to protect yourself from the virus.

“What we have been seeing among those who have had flu shots is their symptoms aren’t as severe,” Jones said. “I think that even though there may not be a great match, there are benefits such as more of lower grade fever and fewer days sicker. It tends to take it down a notch.”

“We know from CDC that some of the flu viruses circulating have ‘drifted’ and are not well-matched to vaccine,” Van Duesen said. “Still, the vaccine will protect against some of the strains out there, and it’s the best protection we have.”

Health experts say that if someone gets sick, they should see a doctor within the first 48 hours. Within that time frame, Tamiflu can be prescribed to reduce symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said flu activity has been high across the southern U.S., including Texas, and is expected to keep climbing in the coming weeks.

On Tuesday, Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja informed county commissioners of the first two adult deaths in the county. Both had underlying health conditions.

“Flu is here,” Taneja told commissioners. “It is deadly disease to be taken very seriously.”

While pediatric flu deaths are required by law to be reported, there is no requirement for adult deaths. The two deaths were reported voluntarily by local health care providers.

Taneja said this year’s flu season is running about three weeks ahead of last year.

That mutated H3N2 strain that isn’t covered by the flu vaccine first started showing up in the U.S. last March.

“The timing was sort of unfortunate because the flu vaccine was already in production in February,” Taneja said.

This story was originally published December 12, 2014 at 4:42 PM with the headline "DFW’s flu season in full swing."