Isle flu cases surge
over last yearState officials expect that the
number will continue to increase
Physicians participating in a state surveillance system for influenza-like cases are reporting the illness in 2 percent to 3 percent of their patients, a state health official says.
"It just jumped up," said Michele Nakata, chief of the state Health Department's disease investigations branch. "Until two weeks ago, it was below 2 percent. Right now, it's higher than it was for the same period last year."
She said cases are likely to continue climbing, based on the mainland epidemic.
People who haven't been vaccinated should get flu shots, Nakata added.
Thus far, the number of influenza vaccinations is believed to be about three times greater than last year, according to the state Health Department.
Despite shortages reported on the mainland, vaccine is available here, Nakata said.
Hawaii's flu season starts Oct. 1 and continues through May, which is longer than on the mainland, and the state conducts surveillance for influenza-type illnesses year-round because of Hawaii's location and number of travelers, she said.
The Health Department reported 25 confirmed cases of influenza from positive cultures statewide from Oct. 1 to Dec. 8. Of those, 11 were from school-age patients. None had the virulent A-Fujian-H3N2 strain of virus that has appeared in some states.
Many more patients are diagnosed with influenza without having cultures done, noted Dr. Marian Melish, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.
Doctors can do a rapid test in the office for influenza and many are used to making a diagnosis without a test or culture, she said.
Kapiolani hasn't had any patients with life-threatening influenza, but the epidemic is just starting here, Melish said.
"No doubt we will have children hospitalized. I saw at least two Saturday when I worked in ER and other people are seeing them in offices," she said.
She said the severity appears to be average.
"I think, though, that people don't realize influenza is a very severe disease," she said.
Children under age 2 and the elderly are the most susceptible, she said.
"But it's a pretty bad disease for everyone."
Prevention is best, then recognition and early treatment, she said.
She encouraged people to look for danger signs and see that someone who is sick gets attention.
Rapid breathing at rest, extreme restlessness, and blue or dark color to the lips, skin or fingernails are serious signs, she said.
Dr. Francis Liu, Kaiser Permanente chief of infectious diseases, said doctors there are seeing sporadic cases of flu.
Cases have picked up compared with a month ago. He expects to see more influenza after the holidays with travelers bringing in the virus.
"One of the misconceptions in the general public is it's an old man's disease, but anybody can get the flu," Liu said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added pregnant women and children ages 6 to 23 months to those who should get vaccinated because they are more likely to be hospitalized if they get influenza, he said.
People of all ages should be vaccinated if they have chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart or lung problems, like asthma, he added.