Health care providers watching for flu and other viral infections

Though the combined impacts of COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza have burdened medical facilities nationwide, seasonal flu cases appear to be plateauing in Alaska, though activity remains high. Wrangell has largely managed to avoid the effects of the “tripledemic” predicted by White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha.

Cases in Alaska started to rise steadily in October and hit pre-pandemic peaks in late November — months before the usual February peak for flu. As of the Dec. 24, the flu activity “is still high, but we may have seen the peak a few weeks ago,” according to the state’s most recent weekly report.

Influenza’s impact on the Wrangell Medical Center has been manageable. Though the facility has had confirmed cases of all three illnesses, it is “not currently seeing large numbers of COVID, flu or RSV,” Carly Allen, hospital administrator, said last week.

However, the flu burden is already straining the capacity of other Alaska hospitals, many of which are running low on supplies of Tamiflu, a prescription drug used to combat symptoms in infected people and prevent the virus from multiplying.

The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium has a full stock of adult Tamiflu but is running short on pediatric doses, director of marketing and communication Lyndsey Schaefer told the Juneau Empire last month. “We’re currently working on getting restocked in the pediatric dosage,” Schaefer said. “We have seen a spike in cases involving flu-like illnesses across the consortium within November and December specifically.”

The Wrangell Medical Center still had doses of pediatric Tamiflu and is “monitoring the situation closely,” Schaefer said.

Though the disease is commonplace, high numbers of flu cases can strain hospitals and endanger children, immunocompromised individuals and adults over 65. Complications from flu can cause serious health conditions, including bacterial pneumonia, or worsen pre-existing health conditions like asthma or diabetes. Influenza causes 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 to 52,000 deaths annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the flu burden was particularly mild, with under 100 cases reported in Alaska in 2020. COVID-19 mitigation measures, like masking and social distancing, likely contributed to this trend, according to a CDC report. However, as pandemic precautions abate, the flu has been on the rise.

“Our (flu) vaccination rates are lower than normal, and I think that has a lot to do with people being so overwhelmed with the COVID vaccine and other vaccines,” nurse epidemiologist Carrie Edmonson of the state Department of Health told the Anchorage Daily News in November.

About 20% of all Alaskans had received a flu vaccination as of Dec. 27, though the rate was 45% for people 65 and older, according to state data.

Flu vaccines take about two weeks to reach full efficacy, which is why experts recommend getting vaccinated by the end of October to bolster immunity before the season starts. However, getting a shot this late in the season is “definitely still worthwhile,” said Schaefer. “Flu season is far from over and Wrangell historically has had outbreaks in February and March.”

Case rates are higher in Southeast Alaska than they are in other areas of the state, though the Northwest has also seen significant numbers.

RSV, influenza and COVID-19 all cause similar symptoms, including fever, cough and difficulty breathing. To determine the cause of your symptoms, it may be necessary to get tested. The same preventative methods that people have been using to lessen the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic — including masking, staying updated on vaccinations and isolating when sick — can help alleviate flu and RSV burdens as well.

“Wrangell Medical Center is providing both influenza and COVID vaccines locally to help keep the community healthy over the holidays,” Allen said.

 

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