There have been several admissions related to the flu at Geary Community Hospital, and the emergency room and lab are seeing a number of influenza patients. That information was provided by the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer, Dawn Engel. “Just up to January 9th of the flu swabs we did do we had a 46% positive rate. That’s just on the swabs we did, not on the patients that were actually sick.”

Engel believes the flu cases are up from past years and it hit about two months earlier than in past years. “It usually spikes for us about February, but we had a really high spike in December that’s not usual.” Engel also thinks that could possibly happen again in mid-February.

To prevent the flu Engel said the first thing to do is get a flu shot. “The flu shot may not prevent you from getting the flu, but maybe it will lessen the symptoms. Other things are to avoid close contact with people that are sick. If you’re sick stay home. If you think that it’s the flu and you have a fever stay home at least 24 hours after that fever is gone. ” Other tips include covering your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze, wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your face and nose. Be sure to keep everything clean and disinfected on surfaces.