Tag: Influenza

Flu claims life of Snohomish County resident

Source: Snohomish Health District
Flu shots work to prevent illness – lots of vaccine available in the county
 
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. – Snohomish County’s first confirmed flu death of the 2013-14 season has been reported to the Snohomish Health District. A Bothell, Wash. woman in her thirties died from influenza complications on January 4. She had underlying health conditions, and passed away in a King County hospital.
 
“This next few months could be a rough start to 2014 for people who do not protect themselves from the flu,” said Nancy Furness, Director of Communicable Disease Division at Snohomish County’s local public health agency. Furness noted that seven county residents died from influenza-related illness in 2013.
 
A flu shot every year is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older. Different strains of flu circulate each year. So far this year, the most common flu virus has been H1N1, the “swine flu” that hit young adults and children hard in 2009. This year’s flu vaccine includes H1N1, substantially reducing the chances you will get a serious case of the flu or pass it to others.
 
The state Department of Health reports five flu-related deaths statewide as of Dec. 28. Official statewide cumulative totals about illness activity are issued once a week, and do not include data from the current week. The Jan. 4 Snohomish County death is not reflected in the most recent statewide total.
 
Visit www.flu.gov for more information about flu, and www.doh.wa.gov for statewide updates.
 
Two upcoming community clinics in Everett offer flu and whooping cough shots at no cost for uninsured, low-income adults.
·         10 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 10 at Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., Everett, Wash.
·         3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 at Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett, Wash.
The vaccine for this current flu season is available at medical providers and pharmacies throughout the county and will protect against three or four kinds of influenza virus — including H1N1 — that make people sick.
 
Washing hands, covering your coughs, and staying home when you are sick are effective ways to reduce spreading and getting diseases. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others.
 
The Snohomish Health District’s clinics in Everett and Lynnwood have vaccine to protect you against the flu. The cost for an adult flu shot at the Snohomish Health District is $30. A flu shot for a child costs $23. The Health District accepts payment by cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, Provider One (coupons), and Medicare for clients whose primary insurance is not with an HMO. Clients may apply for a reduced fee, based on income and household size.
 
Snohomish Health District clinic hours – shots by appointment only:
 
·         SHD Everett Immunization Clinic, 3020 Rucker Ave, Suite 108, Everett, WA 98201
425.339.5220 for an appointment: 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Mon-Wed-Fri; closed on weekends & holidays
·         SHD Lynnwood Immunization Clinic, 6101 200th Ave SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036
425.775.3522 for an appointment: 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Tue & Thu; closed on weekends & holidays
 
Established in 1959, the Snohomish Health District works for a safer and healthier Snohomish County through disease prevention, health promotion, and protection from environmental threats. Find more information about the Health Board and the Health District at http://www.snohd.org.

Get a flu shot today

Flu shots today at the Tulalip Administration building from noon -3:00
Flu shots today at the Tulalip Administration building from noon -3:00

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News Writer

TULALIP, Wash. – Flu season is here and if you want to prevent from getting the flu or contributing to spreading it, the flu vaccine is the way to go. Today, Oct. 22nd,  from 12:00 to 3:00pm at the Tulalip Admin building, the Tulalip Pharmacy is issuing flu vaccines on the second floor in the lunch area. For non-tribal members please bring your medical insurance information.

The Center for Disease Control recommends that all those who are able to be vaccinated do so. Listed below is some information from the CDC about how the vaccine works and who should consider getting vaccinated.

How do flu vaccines work?

Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Traditional flu vaccines (called trivalent vaccines) are made to protect against three flu viruses; an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus. In addition, this season, there are flu vaccines made to protect against four flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines). These vaccines protect against the same viruses as the trivalent vaccine as well as an additional B virus.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine this season, it’s especially important for some people to get vaccinated.

Those people include the following:

  • People who are at high risk of developing serious complications (like pneumonia) if they get sick with the flu.
  • People who live with or care for others who are at high risk of developing serious complications (see list above).
    • Household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
    • Household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 6 months old.
    • Health care personnel.

Fourth flu death of Snohomish County confirmed

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News writer

Snohomish County has had its fourth confirmed death from the flu. A Stanwood man in his 90’s passed away Jan. 8 of influenza. In December there were 3 deaths from the flu, a Bothell woman in her 40’s and an Everett and an Edmonds woman both in their 80’s.

There have been 66 people hospitalized with influenza in the Snohomish County. Those who should be vaccinated are at people with a high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu; people who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, pregnant women, people 65 years and older.

The Tulalip Health Clinic is offering free flu shots

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri from 9:00 – 11:30 and from 1:15 – 4:00

Also on Weds, 10:00 – 11:30 and from 1:15 – 4:00 pm

Reminder:

Symptoms of the flu are characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, headache, runny nose, sore joints, fatigue, muscle ache, cough, and sore throat. These flu symptoms often show up with 2-3 days after coming in contact with the disease, and can last somewhere between 5 to 14 days, all depending on the strain of the virus and the patients’ ability to fight it off.

 

WebMD suggests 8 Natural Tips to Help Prevent a Cold and Flu

  1. Wash your hands, often.
  2. Use a tissue to cover your sneezes and coughs and not your hands.
  3. Don’t touch your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth.
  4. Do aerobic exercises regularly, exercise helps to increase the body’s natural virus-killing cells.
  5. Eat foods containing Phytochemicals, so put away the vitamin pill, and eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits.
  6. Don’t smoke.
  7. Cut Alcohol Consumption.
  8. Relax.

 

 

If you would like to know more about the influenza and the vaccine please visit

The center for disease control

 

 

WebMD cold and flu tips

 

 

Influenza claims three lives in Snohomish County

Vaccination is the best protection against this severe flu; plenty of vaccine in the county

Press Release, Suzanne Pate, Snohomish Health District, www.snohd.org

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — The Snohomish Health District reports three residents of Snohomish County died in recent days from the severe flu that is circulating throughout Western Washington. A Bothell woman in her 40s, an Everett woman in her 80s, and an Edmonds woman in her 80s died in late December in Snohomish County hospitals. All had underlying medical conditions.

“We may be facing the most severe flu season since 2009,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum. “I urge everyone over 6 months of age to get an annual flu shot. It’s still the best weapon we have to fight the flu strains that are circulating this year. Wash your hands often, stay home if you are sick, and cover your cough!”

Snohomish County is well supplied with flu vaccine in providers’ offices as well as community clinics, pharmacies, and the Snohomish Health District clinics. The Health District stocks about 1,000 doses of adult vaccine, and 300 doses of children’s vaccine. More is available as needed.

Dr. Goldbaum noted that this year’s vaccines appear to be well matched for the two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B that are circulating this year. The three strains are H1N1A, H3N2A, and B/Wisconsin. The dominant strain is H3N2, which can cause more serious illness. As of Jan. 2, a surveillance report from two area hospitals shows 52 people have been hospitalized with flu symptoms since Nov. 1 in Snohomish County.

During the 2010-2011 influenza season, we received reports of 16 persons hospitalized with influenza; there was one death reported due to influenza. During the 2011-2012 season, 39 were hospitalized and there were two deaths. Thus, in Snohomish County this season to date compared with each of the past two entire seasons, more people have been hospitalized for or died from influenza.

The Washington State Department of Health reported three deaths in December in King and Pierce counties. Lab-confirmed deaths are reportable although many flu-related deaths may go unreported because they are not lab-confirmed or tested for influenza. The CDC estimates that up to 49,000 people could die from the flu this season.

Flu shots are especially important for people at high risk for complications from the flu, including young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and women who recently gave birth, and people with certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, and neurologic conditions. You need a fresh flu vaccine every year; last year’s vaccine won’t work on the current circulating strains.

Visit CDC for more information about the 2012-2013 flu season. To find flu vaccine in your ZIP code, go to the Flu Vaccine Finder page. You also can find good health tips and background about the flu at the Department of Health website.

Established in 1959, the Snohomish Health District works for a safer and healthier Snohomish County through disease prevention, health promotion, and protection from environmental threats. Find more information about the Health Board and the Health District at http://www.snohd.org.