With pandemic precautions taking a backseat this year, the flu is doing more than returning to normal pre-COVID levels.
"What that means is that flu cases right now are just unprecedented. Not only are we back to seeing case numbers prior to what we were seeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, but far surpassing those numbers."Christina King, Fayette County Health Department
Christina King with the Fayette County Health Department says the illness is hitting one age group particularly hard: children ages 1-10. Three of the six pediatric deaths in Kentucky happened in just the past week.
Looking at lab-confirmed cases alone, Kentucky now has more than four times as many flu cases as compared to this time last year.
Kentucky is on track to have the worst flu season in at least 10 years. Lexington alone is reporting 136 new lab-confirmed flu cases and 1 new flu-related death this week.
— Lexington-Fayette County Health Department (@LFCHD) December 21, 2022
1/7#FightFlu #LexingtonKy #FluShots #FluSeason pic.twitter.com/2II43qu84m
If you or a family member is beginning to have common symptoms like a cough, sore throat, or fever, you might be wondering when is the right time to test – given the prevalence of flu, RSV, and COVID this year. On that note, King has this advice.
"My main recommendation would just be check with your primary care physician," King says. "Give your doctor's office a call, tell them what your symptoms are, and let them know what you're worried about, and they'll be able to give you the best advice on whether you should stay home for awhile or whether you should come in and get tested."
This year’s flu shot, which experts say is particularly well suited to the dominant version of the flu this season, remains the top recommendation. Around 86% of the flu cases reported to the Fayette County Health Department are in unvaccinated individuals.
