Tracking with recent comments made on KVOE’s airwaves by Lyon County Health Officer Dr Ladun Oyenuga about increased flu activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have upgraded the Kansas level from low to high.
The CDC’s report actually involves flu traffic as of Dec. 20, about a week before Dr Oyenuga reported cases of influenza A and B through December. Local hospitalization numbers are pending, but Dr Oyenuga says several patients locally have been hospitalized anywhere from 2-6 days. Nationally, almost 20,000 people were admitted to hospitals in the CDC report from Dec. 20, nearly double the number from the previous week. The rate of hospitalizations per 100,000 has almost doubled at 5.6 patients.
ABC News medical correspondent Dr Darien Sutton says flu traffic is increasing nationwide — typical for this time of year.
Sutton says symptoms begin quickly after flu enters the body.
Some nearby states, like Arkansas, Colorado and Missouri, are dealing with high to very high caseloads. Others, like Nebraska and Oklahoma, are currently listed with low to moderate flu activity. COVID-19 and rhinovirus, or the common cold, are also getting reported locally.
KVOE and KVOE.com will keep you updated.
