Missoula County had a slow start to the flu season, but it's picking up now. The Missoula City-County Health Department is also seeing an increase in the number of reported flu cases and a slew of gastroenteritis viruses, otherwise known as the stomach flu.
Why the outbreak?
Unlike some other parts of the country, Missoula's flu season is primarily from January to March.
Influenza is a respiratory virus. The symptoms are similar to other types of illnesses. They include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, extreme tiredness or body aches. Young children often experience diarrhea and vomiting as well.
Accurate diagnosis most likely occurs if detected in the first two to three days.
Often, the health department has to explain to people why they can get the flu even after they've received a flu shot, Meyer said.
There are more than a dozen strains of influenza, she said. The flu shot is designed for the coming year and protects people from what medical professionals identify in advance as being the worst and most predominant strains. A person may get sick with a strain not identified as one of the three worst strains for that year.
The second reason is that a person may have already been exposed to the flu at the time they received their shot, she said.
Meyer would encourage people to still get flu shots even if they get sick this winter.
Missoula is also experiencing a slew of stomach viruses. They are most likely characterized by vomiting and diarrhea, a sudden onset and a relatively short symptomatic period.
One such gastroenteritis is called norovirus, which is the bug that caused schools in Arlee to shut down for a couple of days in January because of an outbreak among students and staff.
There have been no reported norovirus outbreaks in Missoula to date, but the Health Department routinely calls medical labs and doctors to see if any individual cases have been detected.
“By reminding them about the everyday kind of habits that can keep us well, we hope fewer people will get sick,” Meyer said.
Here are six preventive steps for seasonal winter illnesses:
Avoid close contact with people already sick.
Stay home when you are sick until all symptoms resolve.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
Wash your hands often.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, since many germs are transmitted from your hands.
Practice health habits, including eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of rest and being physically active.
Reporter Chelsi Moy can be reached at 523-5260 or at chelsi.moy@missoulian.com
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