How to stay healthy with Flu cases on the rise – WSBT-TV

How to stay healthy with Flu cases on the rise

by Asher Bookspan, WSBT 22 Reporter

FILE - A flu vaccine is readied at the L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plans' Community Resource Center in Lynwood, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Even during what doctors call "a mild to moderate flu season", doctors are seeing an uptick in flu cases in our area.

Dr. Rex Cabaltica, the medical director at Berrien County Health Department, says while numbers have been lower this year for the flu overall, there was a jump in positive cases over the past week.

He says cases were trending downward until the end of January where positive flu cases jumped up from the 40 to 60 percent range they had been seeing,

"This past week, we saw a slight bump back up to 70, 71%, compared to 56, the prior week. So again, it's there's always a lag time. But this was kind of an unusual uptick, you know, 66, 65, that's 71. So we want to keep our eye on the ball, and just make sure that that does trend down in the coming weeks," Dr. Cabaltica said.

Dr. Cabaltica says that he was surprised to find numbers show that many cases are those who do not have risk factors such as young children, saying that even with the season expected to wind down in March there is still reason to get vaccinated.

"So if you want to keep your kid out of the hospital, again, consider getting vaccinated. So that's not something that we all think as kids, they're not gonna have any problems and they are lower risk compared to the 65 year olds, but that doesn't mean no risk," Dr. Cabaltica said.

Dr. Cabaltica says there are things you can do in combination with the vaccine to help make sure you do not get sick, including seeing a doctor right when developing flu symptoms right away and practicing good hygiene.

"Wash your hands frequently, high touch surfaces need to be cleaned regularly, if you're coughing, cover your mouth, or cough into your elbow, rather than you had a cough in your hand, please wash your hands afterwards," Dr. Cabaltica said.

Dr. Cabaltica is urging *even* those who seem to be at lower risk to get vaccinated to not only protect themselves but to protect those around them and if you start feeling flu like symptoms, to see a doctor as soon as possible.

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How to stay healthy with Flu cases on the rise - WSBT-TV