An increase in flu activity during the past two weeks is normal for this time of year according to officials with the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health. After a relatively calm start to the 2005-2006 flu season, health officials say an increase in reports of influenza-like illness and positive lab reports in several regions indicate more typical widespread flu activity.
"Each flu season is unique," said Dr. Stuart Brown, director of the Division of Public Health. "Some years we see fairly virulent flu strains circulating that make a lot of people very sick, while other years there are strains circulating that don't seem to make many people sick. The increase we are seeing now is not unexpected given the time of year."
Brown said flu activity in Georgia usually peaks in the months of January and February, but with lighter than usual flu activity early in the season, the peak could come later. "With flu you just never know, which is why surveillance is so important," he said.
In Georgia, flu surveillance has two main components: physician reporting and laboratory testing. Each year from October to mid-May, the Division of Public Health tracks cases of influenza throughout the state with the help of volunteer sentinel physicians. While each individual case of influenza is not reportable, health officials monitor influenza activity by watching the percentage of doctor visits for "influenza-like illness." An increase in doctor visits for influenza-like illnesses is generally an indication that flu activity is increasing in an area.
In addition to weekly reporting, sentinel providers send throat swabs from patients for laboratory testing to determine if influenza virus is present in patients, and hence in the state, and if so, what strain of the virus is circulating. So far this season the only strains of influenza detected in the state have been A (H3) viruses.
Each week, the Division of Public Health posts information on circulating influenza strains on its Web site; health.state.ga.us/epi/flu/strain05.asp, based on testing conducted at the Georgia Public Health Laboratory. All data collected by Georgia sentinel physicians is sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for inclusion in the nationwide network, and is also entered into a database that eventually helps determine which strains will be included in next year's influenza vaccine.
The most effective way to prevent or lessen the severity of the flu is to receive a flu vaccination. Health officials also recommend that anyone with fever or other flu-like symptoms limit contact and observe cough etiquette in the presence of others. Frequent hand washing, especially before eating, can also help reduce the risk of becoming infected with flu and other respiratory viruses that circulate this time of year.