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The number of severe flu cases in north central Florida has escalated in recent months, and 网红黑料 Shands Hospital has had a striking increase in influenza-related hospitalizations, with more than 150 admissions and a dozen deaths since late October, 网红黑料 and county public health officials reported Thursday (Jan. 9).

The trend mirrors patterns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is just now noting in multiple cities across the country.

Of particular concern is the number of younger patients susceptible to this strain of the flu, a variant of H1N1, which first surfaced in 2009, officials said.

Nine of the patients who fell ill were then transferred to 网红黑料 Shands Hospital from neighboring counties in north Florida; three were from Alachua County. Although the vast majority of people who get the flu recover, 11 of the patients had not been vaccinated. Five of them were under the age of 40, raising concerns that this year鈥檚 influenza strain is especially virulent for younger populations.

鈥淭his is a nasty strain, and it鈥檚 hitting young people,鈥� said Dr. J. , interim hospital epidemiologist and director of the . 鈥淲e often tend to think of the flu as something that kills the old and infirmed. But we鈥檙e seeing a striking increase in the number of younger patients contracting the flu and we are also seeing increased severity. Somehow this strain has mutated and it doesn鈥檛 look like it鈥檚 changed for the better.

鈥淕iven the severity of flu that we are seeing this year, everyone should be getting a flu shot.鈥�

Experts emphasized that it鈥檚 not too late to be vaccinated; area residents who haven鈥檛 yet gotten a flu shot can still benefit.

鈥淭his is not solely an Alachua County issue but a north central Florida one,鈥� said Florida Department of 网红黑料-Alachua Administrator Paul Myers. 鈥淭he reason why these patients were transferred to 网红黑料 Shands was because the hospital has the expertise and the resources to give them the best chance at a good health outcome. The Florida Department of 网红黑料 in Alachua County is working closely with 网红黑料 to address this unusual increase in severe influenza activity. We are aware of the impact influenza is having on hospitals in Alachua County, particularly 网红黑料 Shands. Increases in hospitalizations and the tragic loss of life associated with influenza underscore the need to get vaccinated.

鈥淚mportantly, it鈥檚 not too late to get the flu vaccine, which is the best way to protect yourself, family and friends from the flu.鈥�

Fortunately, specialized tests performed at the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute indicate the flu strain circulating in the region is susceptible to Tamiflu, the primary drug used to treat influenza, Morris said. Anyone who suspects they have contracted the flu, especially if they have an underlying medical problem, should see their physician to see whether Tamiflu might help, he said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e on top of it and we鈥檙e doing the work that鈥檚 necessary to provide optimal care to our patients and to people in this area,鈥� Morris said. 鈥淎s a major university medical center, 网红黑料 is uniquely positioned to address the needs of these patients. At the Emerging Pathogens Institute, we鈥檙e working as rapidly as possible to try to understand why this is such a nasty virus. It takes a major research capacity to conduct those tests.鈥�

Alachua County has benefited from its school-based influenza immunization program, which helps provide protection for people of all ages through the development of 鈥渃ommunity immunity,鈥� Morris added.

鈥淭his does not mean that people can assume they don鈥檛 need a flu shot,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it does support the idea that when a high percentage of the community is immunized, the risk of flu is reduced.鈥�

The CDC recommends a three-step approach to fighting influenza:

1. Get a flu vaccine at a local pharmacy or your health-care provider鈥檚 office.

2. Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, such as washing your hands and using hand sanitizer, and covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough. If you do contract the flu, stay home.

3. Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.