Monterey, CA Flu Symptoms? Get To The Doctor Quickly, He Or She Can Give You Antivirals :

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This has been a horrendous season for the flu.  Although the season is finally starting to come to the tail end, there have been a record number of illnesses reported and many people are still getting sick from it.  Be careful.  Stay warm, wash your hands well and often, and try to stay away from those who appear to be ill.  It's killing seniors at rates "higher than we have even seen" before, an expert from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) told USA Today.  This flu season, those over 65 have died at a rate of more than 1 in 1,000.  "We've kept rates since 2005 and we have never seen a rate this high," Michael Jhung, an epidemiologist at the CDC said.  "The highest we've ever seen was 90 per 100,000," he said.  Unfortunately, after a heavy toll on the east coast, the flu has migrated to the west coast and there have been a record number of cases in California, Oregon and Washington.  County-run clinics even stayed open on the weekends in Monterey County in order to try and relieve the pressure on local hospital emergency rooms.  If you aren't feeling well, go to the doctor immediately.  Unlike many years, when physicians left flu symptoms untreated, they are treating many this year with antiviral drugs.  However, these drugs often aren't effective unless they are given within 48 hours of flu onset, so it's important to recognize symptoms quickly and get to the doctor so you can get treated.  One of our Platinum Sponsors, Alliance Home Health, has well trained nurses who are witnessing many of these cases first hand.  It can come on quickly and it's particularly hard for the elderly and those with weakened immune systems to recover.Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands To Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.