Local News

Hospital treats increasing flu cases

BUCKHANNON -- Because of the steep and unforeseen increase in the number of flu cases this year, St. Joseph's Hospital's influx of flu patients has resulted in visitor restrictions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 20 pediatric deaths in the United States are a result of the current flu season. From Oct. 1, 2017, to Jan. 2, the CDC confirmed 6,486 influenza-associated hospitalizations.

All U.S.states, except for Hawaii, have reported widespread flu activity, and this season is being compared to the peak of the 2014-2015 season -- a season of high severity, according to the CDC.

Unfortunately, Upshur County and local communities are not escaping the reported epidemic, with many residents heading to local hospitals with flu-like symptoms.

St. Joseph's Hospital has seen an increase in patients suffering from the contagious respiratory illness, which includes symptoms of fever and body aches.

Compared to last year's total 12 in-patients diagnosed with influenza, the hospital has already met that number as of Dec. 1, 2017, said Peggy Cohen, director of infection prevention at St. Joe's.

"What we had from January to November last year, we've already had that number just in December and the first few weeks of January," she said.

Cohen noted last year the admissions were sporadic, with four patients in March 2017 at the same time and others being "one here, one there."

With the rise of in-patient admissions for the flu, St. Joseph's Hospital recently implemented visitor restrictions, which hopefully will reduce the spread of influenza in the community. The last time the hospital had to call for visitor restrictions was two years ago.

"We're asking people not visit if they're ill -- displaying any kind of symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills. We're asking them to avoid visiting any of our in-patients," Cohen explained.

The hospital is limiting two visitors per in-patient room, and children under 12 years old are discouraged from visiting the hospital.

"We're also asking all the visitors please make sure to wash their hands or use our alcohol-based hand sanitizers," she said.

Although the common cold and the flu have similar symptoms, many tend to overlook the chills, coughing and congestion, which can lead to worsening health. However, doctors and nurses at St. Joseph's take extra precautions to diagnose patients correctly.

"Typically we swab our patients and do a point-of-care testing, and we run a rapid flu screen, and it'll tell us positive or negative," explained Cohen.

She noted the CDC is currently recommending if a patient has signs of influenza to treat them with anti-viral medications.

"I think that's what (physicians) are trying to do to get it under control, because some of the flu tests are not completely accurate," she said. "I know a lot of other facilities are implementing other testing too."

Though the hospital is experiencing a rise in flu patients, Cohen said the hospital has not encountered a shortage of supplies.

"We have had some employees as well out, but … we're not short on supplies or anything like that, or having to turn patients away or anything like that. It has not affected us that bad," she said. "Some hospitals across the United States it is, but it has not affected us."

Cohen stressed the hospital is always "prepared to care" for any influx of patients.

Residents who are 65 or older, having chronic medical conditions, pregnant women and young children are at high risk of suffering from the flu.

She noted the flu vaccine is key for patients who want to mitigate the severity of symptoms.

"I know a lot people don't like the flu vaccine or they think it makes them sick or it's not effective -- it's not always 100 percent effective, and they don't know if they'll ever get it 100 percent effective. However, it helps reduce the severity of the flu, and that's what people tend to miss about getting the vaccine," Cohen explained.

Some precautions to take include avoiding sick people, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands frequently and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.

The CDC recommends if you do catch the flu, to stay home for 24 hours after the fever has broken on its own without medications.

Though many have jobs with strict attendance policies, Cohen said it is essential to stay home to prevent spreading the illness.

"(People) need to remember that they have co-workers, and especially if they're in health care, they have patients and visitors they need to protect them from that downstream and not come to work sick," she said.