COVID, RSV and now the FLU — we can’t seem to catch a break. The good news is we have a Flu vaccine. If you aren’t vaccinated against the Flu already, get the vaccine ASAP.
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Influenza activity continues to increase. Regions 4 (Southeast) and 6 (South-Central) are reporting the highest levels of flu activity, followed by regions 3 (Mid-Atlantic) and 9 (south-central West Coast).
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Three influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported this week.
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CDC estimates that, so far this period, there have been at least 2.8 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations, and 1,300 deaths from flu.
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The cumulative hospitalization rate in the FluSurv-NET system is higher than the rate observed in week 44 during every previous flu period since 2010-2011.
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An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu. Getting vaccinated helps prevent infection and can also prevent serious outcomes in people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu.
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CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine annually.
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There are also prescription flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat flu illness; those need to be started as early as possible.
Here is a link to the CDC’s weekly surveillance report.
Please call our office or go to your local pharmacy to get vaccinated against the Flu ASAP.
Be well!
MD, Board-Certified Internist, Concierge Medicine Physician
Dr. Guy Delorefice has been practicing in Sonoma County since 1999 as a board-certified internist. He earned a degree in Biology from St. Mary’s College of California, then completed his medical degree at Creighton University. While at Creighton, he launched medical clinics in third-world countries and became fluent in Spanish. His internship and internal medicine residency were completed at Providence St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. After finishing his training, he relocated to Sonoma County to be closer to home and family. Dr. Guy has built a reputation for exceptional patient care and has been voted by peers as a top physician in his specialty in consecutive years.
Outside medicine, he is deeply family-oriented — married to Rebecca, father to Lani and Capri, with a black lab named Hank. He’s passionate about the outdoors and spends time mountain biking, road biking, abalone diving, fishing, hunting, and skiing. He’s often seen biking around Sonoma with his family.