Peak flu season is here and it is affecting the “whole nine yards” of residents, according to the latest illness trend update from Lyon County Health Officer Dr. Ladun Oyenuga.
During an interview on KVOE’s Morning Show on New Year’s Eve, Dr. Oyenuga reported that in the last 30 days, they have recorded 34 cases of Influenza A, 2 cases of Influenza B, 19 cases of COVID-19, and 17 cases of Rhinovirus. Dr. Oyenuga says the cases have ranged from mild to severe, especially among flu patients.
In terms of length of stay, Dr. Oyenuga says patients hospitalized with flu have been staying between 2-4 days, with some cases extending even further. For the cases not requiring hospitalization, patients reported improvement in 24-48 hours.
Regardless of the severity of the case, she says they have all begun with an onset of traditional symptoms.
With the significant uptick in cases, Dr. Oyenuga says residents need to take steps to help prevent the onset of illness by taking standard precautionary steps.
Dr. Oyenuga’s interview Wednesday followed the announcement of visitor restrictions at Newman Regional Health. Director of Marketing and Public Relations Kacie Hastings says temporary restrictions are now in effect for newborn inpatient areas. Siblings can get permission to visit once they have been screened for symptoms of a fever or cold.
Hastings says healthy visitors need to clean their hands with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitizer, both before and after patient visits. Patients coming to Newman Regional Health and have flu symptoms — fever, coughing and/or sneezing, sore throat, runny nose or stuffy nose — are asked to wear masks.
