Area readies for possible flu outbreak, hygiene imperative

If you haven’t had the flu this winter, you most likely have been either careful or lucky. However, while the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that flu season begins around October and peak flu activity takes place between December and February, flu season can continue as late as May. For that reason, it is recommended that everybody take certain precautions to avoid getting sick.
Kendra Findley, with the Greene County Health Department in Springfield, said practicing some basic hygiene is the best way to avoid the flu.
“The No. 1 action we can all do to protect ourselves from disease is to wash our hands frequently with soap and water,” she said. “This simple action alone physically removes germs and eliminates the possibility of exposing ourselves to infectious disease.”
Findley also suggested getting a flu shot and practicing social distancing as ways to help avoid the flu.
“The flu shot, while not perfect, is our best defense against the flu,” she said. “The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone six months of age and older get the flu shot at the beginning of flu season (by Oct. 31). Even if the flu shot is not a good match to circulating strains of the virus, it will still offer some protection (and help) lessen the severity of illness and shorten the length of illness. You can also practice social distancing when the disease is at peak level. Try to avoid crowds, and if you see someone who is exhibiting symptoms, maintain a distance of six feet.

Already have the flu…
For those who already have the flu, Findley recommends an antiviral medication to help get over it.
“Antivirals are effective if taken within 48 hours of symptom onset,” she said. “Otherwise, over the counter cold and flu medications to control symptoms are your best bet.”
Findley also said flu symptoms last up to five days.
“If your illness progresses beyond this point and becomes worse, you should contact your doctor,” she said. “There is a good chance that you have contracted a secondary bacterial infection.”

Coronavirus…
Another illness that has been making the news lately is COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus (The title of the disease is actually an abbreviation of its official name, Corona Virus Disease 2019).    COVID-19 is not the first coronavirus to be contracted by humans, however, it is what is called a “novel virus,” meaning it is “a new virus that had not been previously identified.”
The disease originated in Wuhan, China and has since spread rapidly. According to information provided by the World Health Organization, as of press time, there were more than 106,000 cases of the virus being reported, with almost 81,000 of them being in China, followed by more than 7,100 cases in South Korea and more than 6,500 in Iran. In the United States, there have been about 213 cases reported, and the first case in Missouri, a young woman in St. Louis who studied abroad in Italy, was reported by Gov. Jim Parson’s office on Saturday, March 7. To date, almost 3,700 people have died from the virus, including about 20 in the United States.

Preparing for Greene County Coronavirus…
As of press time, there have been no reported cases of the virus in Greene County. In the event it does reach Greene County, Findley said people can help stop or slow the spread of the virus using some of the same steps to stop the spread of the flu: washing hands, social distancing, staying home when they or someone in their home is ill with the disease, and making sure that common surfaces at home and the workplace stay clean and disinfected.
However, while the disease is spreading rapidly, there is a high likelihood that most people who contract COVID-19 will show little to no symptoms. According to information from the Greene County Health Department’s website, 80-percent of those who contract the illness experience mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all; those who are most likely to experience severe symptoms are the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
“While a new virus circulating in the population is concerning, we need to recognize that there have been many cases that were mild or where people had no symptoms at all,” said Findley. “Coronaviruses come from a family of viruses that cause the common cold.  This new virus has the potential to cause a relatively minor illness. This new virus is different because our immune systems have never come into contact with it before so we will have no response. Those who are immune compromised are at higher risk for severe illness.”
While the numbers of reported cases of COVID-19 may sound high, it should be noted that the CDC estimates there have been up to 49 million cases of the flu and up to 52,000 flu deaths in the United States alone this flu season.

Beware of snake oil cures…
Also, be wary of those attempting to make a fast buck by claiming to have a cure or treatment for the coronavirus. Findley was featured in a news segment at OzarksFirst.com where she debunked purported coronavirus “cures” such as a Silver Solution dietary supplements advertised on Jim Bakker’s television show, which supposedly could “kill the coronavirus within 12 hours,” and other dubious treatments such as oregano oil, eating boiled garlic and drinking chlorine dioxide.

More info…
For more information on flu and the coronavirus, visit the Center for Disease Control’s website at www.cdc.gov and the Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s website at www.springfieldmo.gov/2853/Health.