You’re coughing and have chills and fever. Your muscles ache. You have no energy. Is it the flu?
Not necessarily.
It could be something called respiratory syncytial virus — or RSV — which is especially serious for young children but that can affect others.
“You’re sicker than the common cold, but it isn’t influenza,” said Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties.
“We’re seeing a higher level of RSV than other years,” Locke said, adding that there’s no vaccine for it.
That doesn’t mean the flu isn’t going around.
Verge of flu outbreak
“We’re on the verge of the outbreak mode of the flu season” on the North Olympic Peninsula, Locke said Tuesday.
“Each week, it gets a little worse.”
Public schools inform the county public health office when they have 10 percent or more absenteeism because of illness.
On Feb. 18, the Port Angeles School District reported 11 percent absenteeism because of illness, Locke said.
Such reports are usually about two weeks before the peak of the flu season, Locke said.
No other school districts on the Peninsula have called in about absenteeism, he said.
Both Olympic Medical Center and Jefferson Healthcare have had two lab-confirmed cases of flu, Locke said.
“We re definitely seeing flu in the community,” he added.
But if you got a flu shot this year, then influenza probably isn’t the source of your malaise.
Each year’s flu vaccine is actually the product of experts’ best guess about which strain will cover the Earth that year. Some years, the experts guess wrong.
That isn’t the case this year.
Vaccine covers all strains
“All the influenza we’re seeing in the U.S. are the strains covered by the flu vaccine,” Locke said.
It takes about 10 to 14 days for the vaccine to start working, he added.
It isn’t infallible, though. It covers the vast majority of people, but not all.
And not all influenza-like illness is caused by influenza virus.
“Any flu season, there’s always a mix of influenza and influenza-like illness,” Locke said.
Locke said only about 20 percent of those with influenza-like illness actually have the flu.
Neither Olympic Medical Center nor Jefferson Healthcare has seen a dramatic spike in flu-like illnesses including serious colds, OMC spokesman Jeff Anderson and Jefferson Healthcare Infection Preventionist Cynthia Walker said.
“We are seeing a gradual incline in the number of cases we are seeing,” Walker said.
The state Department of Health said the flu virus has been circulating in most communities during the past few weeks, sometimes at increasing levels, and will likely continue to circulate throughout March.
Flu often causes fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches and fatigue.
People at high risk for complications of flu include those younger than 5 years old but especially children younger than 2 years old, those 65 years or older, pregnant women and those with underlying medical conditions, including being severely overweight.
Those at high risk for complications who have flu symptoms should contact their health care provider immediately.
Start treatment early
Antiviral medications can decrease the likelihood of complications. Treatment works best when started early.
People who have flu symptoms should stay away from others, cover their coughs and wash their hands frequently to avoid spreading the infection.
Since flu is likely to circulate for several weeks, it is still beneficial to get the flu vaccine if you haven’t already.
Clallam County Health & Human Services is not providing seasonal influenza vaccinations to adults this year. Shots are offered at many pharmacies and other locations.
Jean Baldwin, director of Jefferson County Public Health, said the vaccine is still available at Safeway and at doctor’s offices. For more information on Jefferson County immunizations, visit www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org.
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Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.