Nationally, influenza has reached epidemic levels, according to data released this week from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, but the virus hasn’t posed a major problem locally.
“So far we’ve had only one hospitalization (from the flu virus),” said Marc Meyer, infection preventionist at Southwest Memorial Hospital. “We are seeing high numbers throughout the state, but locally we haven’t seen anything unusual.”
According to CDC data, Influenza A (H3N2) viruses have been most common in the U.S. this season.
Patients older than 65 and younger than 6 months account for the largest portion of hospitalizations from the influenza virus.
Seasons tend to be more severe when the H3N2 viruses predominate, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The Department of Health says that half the H3N2 viruses circulating now are different from the H3N2 virus that is used in this season’s flu vaccine. Vaccinations, however, remain the predominate way to prevent illness, the agency affirms.
While Colorado flu hospitalization rates are high, data indicates that the counties having the biggest problems are Morgan, Pueblo and Denver.
Morgan County’s hospitalization rate is 49.5 per 100,000 residents, Pueblo’s is 60.8 per 100,000 residents and Denver’s is 34.2 per 100,000 residents. Montezuma and La Plata County rates are 3.9 and 3.7, respectively.