MedStar’s Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) responses continue to run 21.5% higher than last flu season.
For February, our crews are treating an average of 9.3 patients per day with a primary or secondary impression of ILI, up 63% from February last year, but slightly less than the 10.4 cases per day in January 2020.
This data seems to indicate that the flu season is far from over in North Texas, and we continue to encourage residents to follow these important tips:
- Get a flu vaccine!
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
- If you are sick with flu symptoms, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
CBS-11 did a story on the region’s flu concerns, including MedStar’s data on influenza-Like Illness responses. Click here to view the media story.
ABC-8 rode along with MedStar Field Operations Supervisor Brian White and did a media story on the impact of MedStar’s flu response volume. Click here to view the media story.
We encourage area residents to use the flu prevention recommendations from the CDC and Tarrant County Public Health, which can be found at: https://www.medstar911.org/medstar-flu-response-trends-prevention-tips
We also remind area residents that MedStar offers mobile flu vaccine clinics which can be scheduled here: https://www.medstar911.org/medstar-mobile-flu-vaccine-program/
