The St. Louis region is experiencing a sharp uptick in flu cases, according to physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, resulting in nine deaths in their institution, primarily among otherwise healthy young and middle-aged adults who had not received flu shots.
“We have seen a steep rise in flu cases, and we’re treating some very, very sick patients from the St. Louis area and others who have been transferred here from hospitals in the region,” said Steven Lawrence, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Barnes-Jewish.
So far this season, 320 cases of influenza have been diagnosed at Barnes-Jewish, with an average of 10 to 12 new cases daily.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital physicians have treated about a dozen patients with influenza in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
As in the 2009 pandemic, the H1N1 strain of influenza is causing the most problems, disproportionately affecting younger patients.
“This year, similar to 2009, we are seeing increased disease and increased severity of disease in young adults – people in their 20s up into their 50s,” said Hilary Babcock, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at BJC HealthCare.
In response, the St. Louis County Department of Health scheduled three free flu shot clinics this week. The first two were held Tuesday and Wednesday. The remaining clinic will be held noon until 4 p.m. Thursday, January 16 at the South County Health Center, 4580 South Lindbergh Blvd. in Sunset Hills.
For two days next week and while supplies last, Barnes-Jewish Hospital will offer free flu shots to persons age 18 and older from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, January 20 and Tuesday, January 21 at the O’Fallon Park Rec Complex, located at 4343 West Florissant Ave. in St. Louis (63115). All BJH vaccines are free of latex and preservatives.
Babcock said to watch for symptoms such as a sudden onset of higher fever, cough, sore throat and body aches. She said rapid flu tests may not detect influenza even if you have symptoms.
“If people have all of those symptoms compatible with having the flu, even if they haven’t tested as having the flu, they should talk to their doctors about getting treated with antiviral medicines,” Babcock said.
“And if they work, they should talk to their work about staying home to protect other people.”
Doctors advise staying home 24 hours after fever has subsided.
For patients sick with the flu, Tamiflu and Relenza are available by prescription. The drugs can help reduce the duration and severity of the illness, particularly if given within 48 hours of developing flu symptoms.
Persons who have already had the flu can still benefit from a flu vaccine, because they can get it again from a different strain.
“Getting the vaccine protects you from getting a different strain of flu later in the same season,” Babcock said.
Physicians are strongly encouraging people to get the influenza vaccine if they have not already done so because the flu season has not yet peaked and the H1N1 influenza virus could be circulating for at least another month and possibly into the spring.
“It is not too late to get a flu shot,” Lawrence said. “Most of the influenza patients we’ve seen who are sick enough to be hospitalized did not get vaccinated.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. This year’s seasonal flu vaccine protects against two strains of influenza A, H1N1 and H3N2, as well as one or two influenza B strains. The vaccine takes two weeks to be fully effective, but doctors say that should not discourage people from getting vaccinated.
The risk of severe flu and flu complications generally is higher among children younger than 5, adults age 65 or older, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart disease.
For a fee, flu vaccine is still available in St. Louis City, County and St. Charles, ranging from sliding scale with proof of income at St. Louis health centers to $25-$40 at area urgent care centers and pharmacy clinics.
