There's still time to get a flu shot.
Flu vaccinations are available this weekend. Due to increased flu activity, including high levels of influenza-like-illness, Inova hospitals have scheduled additional public flu vaccination clinics for Saturday. The vaccinations are recommended by the Center for Disease Control. Vaccinations are $30 each, and the hospital will vaccinate those 6 months and older.
Hospital curtails visitation hours, restricts visitors to those 18 and older.
The flu epidemic sweeping the country is being felt in Northern Virginia, with hospital emergency rooms reporting a spike in patients coming in with flu-like symptoms. In the wake of the increase in flu cases in Northern Virginia, Inova hospitals are putting restrictions on visitors, the hospital system announced Friday in a news release. "As part of our vision to optimize the health and well-being of each individual we serve, Inova hospitals will be instituting specific visitation measures in response to continued regional Influenza infection," said spokesman Tony Raker, in the release. "These measures, designed to protect patients, visitors and staff from exposure to influenza, are in effect system wide at all Inova hospital inpatient …
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Inova hospitals say flu arrived sooner, is more widespread, causing spike in number of patients visiting emergency rooms.
While the Centers for Disease Control counts Virginia as one of the states seeing a spike in flu cases, flu is not a reportable disease, so hard numbers are difficult to come by. But Inova, the largest hospital system in Northern Virginia, is seeing a spike in the number of flu patients visiting their emergency rooms, a spokesman said. And across the area, it's the same story — three times as many — a county spokesman said. "We, like everyone else in the Metro region, have experienced an uptick over the past four weeks in both outpatient visits to our EDs [emergency rooms] as well as in-patient placements for those with flu-related complications," said Tony Raker, public relations director for Inova Hospitals in Northern Virginia. Members …
How to recognize symptoms and what to know about treatment if you get sick.
Flu season is coming early in parts of the United States: This time last year, flu cases were lower in the Washington D.C.-Metro area than they are now, according to data from Arlington and Washington on Google's Flu Trends. (Fairfax City-specific data is not available on Flu Trends.) The rate of residents with the flu is the highest it's been in Arlington and the D.C. area since 2009-2010, when flu activity skyrocketed early in October, according to data. Overall in Virginia, activity is considered "high." The flu activity in the state now is the highest it's been in December for the past six years of data. At this time last year, activity was considered moderate, according to Flu Trends. If you're considering getting a flu shot, here …
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The CDC established National Influenza Vaccination Week to remind people that it's not too late to get a flu shot.
The flu season is off to an earlier-than-usual start nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Activity is most intense in the south-central and southeast of the country right now," the a CDC report released Monday says. "Most of the viruses characterized so far this season have been H3N2 viruses; which are typically associated with more severe seasons." The CDC established Dec. 2-8 as National Influenza Vaccination Week. The week is highlighted to remind people to get flu vaccinations before flu season. Last week, a Mayo Clinic report suggested people at risk for heart disease who get flu shots reduce their risk for heart attacks. This week, the Fairfax County Health Department will provide tips and …
