For the second consecutive year, Louisiana leads the nation in early-season flu cases. That’s according to the centers for disease control and prevention – the CDC. Last week, Louisiana reported the highest flu activity nearing the ‘very high’ range.
As Sean Richardson with the Louisiana Radio Network (LRN) reports, state Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says more than 11% of flu tests in Louisiana returned positive, compared to the national average of 3.5%. “We’re among the first to really start to see these high levels of activity. Often times, we start to see increases in the spread of flu in the southern states.” The Louisiana Department of Health reports high RSV activity as well, with an 18% rate of positive tests. Sokol says many emergency room visits involve either flu, RSV, COVID-19, or a combination of these illnesses.
Health officials remind the public that Vaccinations are still readily available and say they can help reduce the severity and spread of the flu. And Sokol says other preventive measures, including handwashing, covering coughs, staying home when ill, and getting a flu shot, remain critical. “I also like to remind people to kind of avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth because germs can spread that way. And always a good idea this time of year to clean frequently touched surfaces.”
