Influenza Epidemic Declared in Western WA

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.

Flu reaches 'epidemic' level in Washington, record cases reported | KING5.com

There have been 9 reported deaths, and EDs are being inundated. How are things in your area?

So glad that I got my flu shot early.

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I got my flu shot a couple of months ago. My oldest son, his wife, and two kids live up there. He's immunocompromised due to chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

Get your darn flu shot! It protects other people too.

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Should we take bets to guess how long it takes for someone who claims to be a nurse (or retired nurse) to show up here and tell us the flu shot gave her the flu?

I kept meaning to get the shot, but it didn't happen. About a month ago, I was getting cleared for knee surgery and my doctor offered it. I was happy to comply. I got a sore arm and felt a little off for a day, but I'm hoping it does its job. I do not want the flu. I've had it before, and it was the sickest I have ever felt. It was horrible horrible horrible. The body aches were excruciating, my temp was 105, and I felt like I might die. I got a secondary pneumonia and couldn't work for several weeks.

Real influenza, unlike many mild viral illnesses people believe are the flu, is serious and a miserable affliction.

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Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability.

I am in Western Washington, and we have seen a tremendous upsurge in flu cases in our outpatient clinics. The local ED's are stacking the patients in the halls.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I'm on the coast of Oregon, and we're getting hit equally hard. This is an ugly year for flu.

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I'm curious to know what the immunization rate is for that region. If it's low this would be an excellent case to support our fight to get people vaccinated. From what I can find WA state usually is one of the states with a higher percentage of adults who get the flu shot but there may be regional pockets of people who do not.

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Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability.

^^^http://here.doh.wa.gov/materials/wa-immuniz-scorecard/15_ImmuScor_E16L.pdf The most current immunization data in Washington is from 2014 and was released in April 2016. I expect to see the 2015 data this spring.

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^^^http://here.doh.wa.gov/materials/wa-immuniz-scorecard/15_ImmuScor_E16L.pdf The most current immunization data in Washington is from 2014 and was released in April 2016. I expect to see the 2015 data this spring.

215-16 Influenza Season Vaccination Coverage Report

| FluVaxView | Seasonal Influenza (Flu) | CDC The CDC estimates for the 2015 flu season in Washington is a 47.9% immunization rate.

Yes, those are the stats I saw which puts WA near the top for immunization rates. I'm wondering what the rate for the affected region is as it seems to be centered in the western part of the state.

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In the county where my husband works, western PA, there have been >200 reported cases in the past 2 months! The ERs are overloaded and the hospitals have been at max capacity since the week before Christmas. Mostly influenza A cases.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

In my neck of the woods the flu doesn't seem that bad yet but it's been warmer than usual until this last week.

I do feel like the bitter cold plays a huge role in my area as far as how hard we get hit and when each flu season because of the lack of access to outpatient care that the elderly and young experience in single digit weather (more so per preference cause it's just so damn cold out).

People do seem to tend to try and bunker down until they're in respiratory distress whereas if it were warmer they would be going to their PCP's, walk-in clinics, and even the drug stores, etc earlier.

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.
Yes, those are the stats I saw which puts WA near the top for immunization rates. I'm wondering what the rate for the affected region is as it seems to be centered in the western part of the state.

From what I read, I don't believe data has been gathered about whether those afflicted had been immunized. I should think that the affected area would have relatively high immunization rates as it is mainly urban/suburban with good access to care. Many pharmacies offer flu shots, and because of the ACA, there is no charge. Or maybe it is hitting hard because of the sheer concentration of people.

DH adamantly refuses flu shots and I was sure he had it the other night. Appears to be more of a cold now, but when he was complaining of chills and aches, I was worried. Stubborn old coot.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, Med-Surg/Tele, LTC.

Got my flu shot. Still got the flu. Several of my co-workers have too. I'm assuming the shot for this year didn't cover the strain going around.

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