Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels is Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control at the UK Medical Center. During a conference call with reporters, he stated that they're dealing with a type of flu that changes frequently.
“That Flu A strain, the H3N2, which is the most common one that is circulating right now, has changed a little bit and that further is subtyping, because of that, we're seeing more cases of the flu because, as flu changes every year, either people haven't gotten vaccinated, or been exposed to it, or the vaccine isn't as well matched as it could be because it changed.”
Pediatricians in Kentucky are bracing for the likely spread of the flu as students return to classes and day cares after the holidays.
Dr. Lindsay Ragsdale is the Chief Medical Officer of Kentucky Children's Hospital. During a conference call with reporters, she said it is important to get children vaccinated against the flu.
“All the kids went back to school this week, so from the pediatric side, we're bracing ourselves for some spread in the community, especially in the schools and day cares. We are really relying on the things we know help prevent influenza, which is really vaccinations.”
She said wiping down surfaces with alcohol, washing hands, and covering your mouth while coughing are great ways to help prevent the spread of the flu. Ragsdale said if a child has a fever, keep them home from school.
There has already been one pediatric flu death this season. A child in northern Kentucky who was not vaccinated died last week.
Doctors say there is still time to get vaccinated.
