El Paso County Public Health reports first flu hospitalization of the season
For the first time this flu season, an El Paso County resident has been hospitalized with Influenza.
El Paso County Public Health said people six months of age and older should get the flu vaccine.
During the 2014-2015 flu season, 340 people in El Paso County were hospitalized due to flu-related symptoms. Flu activity commonly peaks in January or February. However, it can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May.
The flu usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms:
Fever (usually high)
Headache Tiredness (can be extreme) Cough Sore throat Body aches Diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults)
Those most at risk for developing flu-related complications are children under two, the elderly, pregnant women, or people with chronic respiratory disease or who have weakened immune systems.
The Pueblo City-County Health Department reported its first flu hospitalization of the season earlier this month.
Shannon Rowe, with the El Paso County Health Department, said December 29 may seem late for the first hospitalization, but it doesn’t mean it will be an easier flu season.
“There is never a typical flu season. Each year the season is different. In the severity, in when it starts and when it peaks. And so it’s kind of a guessing game. You never know when the flu is going to hit,” said Rowe.
At Ivywild Pharmacy in Colorado Springs, owner Shannon Bethel gave a flu shot to an employee.
“I have probably given about 100 this season and I am very gentle,” said Bethel.
Bethel said her husband came down with the flu in recent years. She and her children got flu shots, so they had mild symptoms. Her husband didn’t get a flu shot, and she said the illness had a big impact on him.
“He doesn’t go down very easily. And to see him feeling so crummy and rotten, and it took a while for him to get his strength back and it was hard for me to see that,” said Bethel.
Her employee Morgan JackSon had flu-like symptoms several years ago. She got the flu shot on Tuesday.
“I don’t want to spread anything, I don’t want it to spread to me, just keep it clean,” said JackSon.
Rowe said the best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine and said it’s not too late for the public for receive them.
The Center for Disease Control said in September its experts are optimistic that this year’s flu shot will be more effective. Experts will not be able to make a full determination for a few months.
