3 weeks ago
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WEATHER THAT COULD COME TO CENTRAL ALABAMA. TODAY. A HEALTH EXPERT AT UAB DESCRIBED OUR STATE AS A, QUOTE, HOTSPOT FOR FLU CASES. WVTM 13 EMMA OWEN IS JOINING US HERE IN STUDIO. EMMA, TELL US MORE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE’RE SEEING RIGHT HERE IN OUR STATE. WELL, BRITTANY DOCTOR SUZANNE JUDD, EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR AT UAB, TELLS US FLU CASES ARE SPIKING IN OUR STATE. NOW, SHE DID REMIND US THAT DESPITE THE RAPID SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, IT’S STILL FLU SEASON. SO THE CASES ARE TO BE EXPECTED. BUT WE ARE STARTING TO GET THE UPPER END OF WHAT’S CONSIDERED NORMAL. ABOUT 20% OF THE TESTS THAT THAT PEOPLE ARE ADMINISTERING. WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN WITH AN UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION ARE COMING BACK POSITIVE FOR FLU, WHICH IS A REALLY HIGH RATE. IN FACT, IN ALABAMA, WE ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST STATES OF THE 50 STATES IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF FLU ACTIVITY THAT WE’RE SEEING. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE’RE STARTING TO SEE RSV, WHICH IS ANOTHER VIRUS THAT CIRCULATES THAT’S GOING UP. WE’RE ALSO SEEING COVID GOING UP A LITTLE BIT. JUDD SAYS SHE ANTICIPATES FLU CASES WILL KEEP RISING FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 WEEKS BEFORE THEY TAPER OFF. IN THE MEANTIME, SHE SAYS, IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS, KEEP A DISTANCE OF 3 TO 6FT WHEN YOU’RE AROUND. PEOPLE WEAR A MASK. IF YOU’RE SICK OR WORRIED ABOUT GETTING SICK AND GET VACCINATED, JUDGE SAYS IT’S ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP SURFACES CLEAN. AND IF YOU HAVE A CHILD IN SCHOOL, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW TO AVOID GETTING SICK. CHILDREN HAVE VERY DIFFERENT HABITS THAN WE ALL HAVE. THEY TEND TO SHARE WATER BOTTLES. THEY SHARE FORKS AND KNIVES. SO TALKING TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT USING THEIR OWN FORKS AND KNIVES AND USING THEIR OWN WATER BOTTLE, IT’S A GREAT WAY TO KEEP THE DISEASE FROM SPREADING. NOW, IF YOU’RE STARTING TO FEEL SICK AND AREN’T SURE WHAT TO DO, JUDD SAYS A FEVER, EVEN A LOW GRADE ONE I
How to avoid illness as Alabama becomes 'hotspot' for flu cases
As flu cases rise in Alabama, health experts are sharing advice on how to avoid getting sick.Suzanne Judd, Ph.D., is an epidemiologist and professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She described Alabama as being a "hotspot" for flu cases right now in the United States."About 20% of the tests that people are administering when someone comes in with an upper respiratory infection are coming back positive for flu, which is a really high rate," Judd said. "In fact, in Alabama, we are among the highest states of the 50 states in terms of the amount of flu activity that we're seeing."Judd said RSV and COVID-19 cases are also increasing, but the flu is by far the biggest illness that is circulating right now.She anticipates cases will continue rising for the next two to three weeks before they taper off. In the meantime, she said it's a good idea to take the following precautions: Keep a distance of 3-6 feet from people.Wear a mask if you're sick or worried about getting sick.Get vaccinated.Keep surfaces clean.Meanwhile, for people who have school-aged children, Judd said it's a good time to talk to kids about how to prevent getting sick."Children have very different habits than we all have," Judd said. "They tend to share water bottles. They share forks and knives. So, talking to your kids about using their own forks and knives and using their own water bottle. It's a great way to keep the disease from spreading."Judd said they were already seeing a rise in flu cases before kids returned to the classroom from winter break, and expects they'll continue seeing a rise in cases now that class is back in session.If you or someone you know is starting to feel sick but is unsure how to respond, Judd said a fever, even a low-grade one, is a sign you should stay home or see a doctor.
As flu cases rise in Alabama, health experts are sharing advice on how to avoid getting sick.
Suzanne Judd, Ph.D., is an epidemiologist and professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She described Alabama as being a "hotspot" for flu cases right now in the United States.
"About 20% of the tests that people are administering when someone comes in with an upper respiratory infection are coming back positive for flu, which is a really high rate," Judd said. "In fact, in Alabama, we are among the highest states of the 50 states in terms of the amount of flu activity that we're seeing."
Judd said RSV and COVID-19 cases are also increasing, but the flu is by far the biggest illness that is circulating right now.
She anticipates cases will continue rising for the next two to three weeks before they taper off. In the meantime, she said it's a good idea to take the following precautions:
- Keep a distance of 3-6 feet from people.
- Wear a mask if you're sick or worried about getting sick.
- Get vaccinated.
- Keep surfaces clean.
Meanwhile, for people who have school-aged children, Judd said it's a good time to talk to kids about how to prevent getting sick.
"Children have very different habits than we all have," Judd said. "They tend to share water bottles. They share forks and knives. So, talking to your kids about using their own forks and knives and using their own water bottle. It's a great way to keep the disease from spreading."
Judd said they were already seeing a rise in flu cases before kids returned to the classroom from winter break, and expects they'll continue seeing a rise in cases now that class is back in session.
If you or someone you know is starting to feel sick but is unsure how to respond, Judd said a fever, even a low-grade one, is a sign you should stay home or see a doctor.
English (US)