By David Ball

david.ball@panews.com

Maybe you or a loved one or friend has already contracted the flu. If so, you won’t be alone.

Martha Simien, an epidemiologist with the city of Port Arthur Public Health Department, said the department has seen an increase in flu cases.

Simien attributes some of the increase to varying seasonal trends for the flu: an increase in population and not using universal precautions to protect oneself and others.

She said the state average for flu cases has constantly increased. The health department is asking partners — private providers, schools, health clinics and hospitals — to report their flu cases to them.

The flu, however, is not a notifiable condition for the public, Simien said. The department can only monitor flu cases.

“We can only have them report to us and see if there is an influx of flu and no outbreaks,” she said. “This is a high flu season from reports.”

Tonya Bell, immunology nurse at the health department, said this 2017-2018 season the department has been vaccinating for the Michigan and Hong Kong Type A flu and the Brisbane and Phuket Type B flu.

The peak for flu season is February. Health department vaccinations start in early spring and summer and expire in June.

Some common universal precautions to protect oneself and others against the flu include covering your coughs and sneezes, washing your hands and getting a flu shot.

The flu shot is for ages 6 months to adulthood. Consequently, it’s typically children and older adults who show underlying conditions and are affected.

Some signs of catching the flu are headaches, fever, coughing, chills, fatigue and achy bones.

“The flu shot does not make you sick. That’s a myth. Regardless of risk everybody should get a flu shot,” Simien said.

She’s unsure if the debris from Tropical Storm Harvey is a factor. However, the health department has been giving Hepatitis A, tetanus and some flu shots over the past three months since the storm.

They also treat for respiratory infections, but they don’t do surveillance of that condition. Some of the respiratory infections stem from asthma and allergies.