NORTHAMPTON — The rate of lab-confirmed cases of influenza has doubled in the state, and the city’s Public Health Department has seen a higher demand for vaccinations heading into the peak of flu season in January.
Jenny Meye, Northampton’s public health nurse, said that since the end of September “the demand has been so much higher than in years past.”
When comparing the number of vaccinations given by the city’s Health Department, this year has already surpassed last year’s total, according to Meyer.
The health department provided 468 vaccines last flu season, whereas this season that number is already at 585.
At a recent flu vaccine clinic at the Senior Center, Meyer’s supply of 127 vaccines were cleared out in one day. There were only 78 vaccines given at last year’s clinic, Meyer said.
So far in Northampton, there have only been two reports of the flu at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, down from the four at the same time last year, Meyer said.
The number of confirmed cases has more than doubled from this time last year, reported the state’s Department of Health. As of Dec. 7, there have been 548 confirmed cases of the flu, while last year there were only 269 by the same date.
Although there has been a sharp increase in the number of confirmed cases, Dr. Larry Madoff of the state’s Department of Public Health said the number of people testing for influenza has also risen.
But when looking at the number of reported instances of influenza-like illness, there has only been a 1.62 percent increase from the previous year.
“The numbers we are seeing for influenza-like illness activity in the community is not unusual for this time of year,” said Madoff, adding that the number of lab-confirmed cases are only “the tip of the iceberg.”
Madoff said the tests do not show all the cases of influenza of the state, and although very reliable, do not reflect every person who has gotten the illness.
The northeastern part of the state saw the most significant spike of confirmed cases, where there have been 202 this year compared to only 60 last year, according to the state’s report.
That’s something that Madoff couldn’t explain, but said it was not unusual to see variations from one region to another.
The number of reported cases in the western part of the state has remained somewhat consistent compared to last year – down to 46 cases from 50 last year.
Meyer said people can call her to schedule vaccination appointments, adding that it typically takes two weeks to reach “peak effectiveness.” She can be reached at (413) 587-1286.
Since the end of January is the height of flu season, Meyer says it is not too late for a vaccination.
The Center for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the “most important” step in protecting against influenza for everyone six months and older.
If you are sick with flu-like symptoms – such as a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, chills and fatigue – the CDC recommends you stay home for at least 24 hours.
Madoff said personal hygiene is important to staying influenza-free, and recommended people who have conditions preventing them from getting the vaccine to use anti-viral medicine such as Xofluza.
Luis Fieldman can be reached at lfieldman@gazettenet.com