SLO County’s flu season is getting worse, but there’s still time to get a shot
With flu activity is on the rise in San Luis Obispo County and nationwide, public health officials are urging residents to take common-sense precautions.
The San Luis Obispo County Health Agency released an advisory Wednesday noting that while the flu season is well underway, it has not yet peaked.
The season, the agency says, generally begins in October or November, peaks between January and February, and lasts as late as May.
Those most at risk for influenza include adults over the age 65 and young children under the age of 5. Children 2 years of age and younger are especially vulnerable, the advisory says.
Although pregnant women and people with health conditions such as heart or lung disease are also generally at risk, even young, healthy people can experience serious complications from the flu.
Officials are still urging residents to get a flu shot, if possible.
“While the flu shot offers most protection if you get it early in the season, it’s better now than never,” the advisory states. “If you get a flu vaccine but still get the flu, you will most likely have more mild illness and less risk of serious complications. You can get your flu shot from your healthcare provider, at many local pharmacies, or at Public Health Department clinics.”
The advisory says that in most cases, those with flu-like symptoms are best to recover at home in stead of waiting in a doctor’s office to be told to rest, hydrate, and take fever-reducing medication.
However, seeking medical attention is the wise option if a person experiences chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, confusion, or severe vomiting.
A person is typically contagious for at least seven days after the start date of their illness, but likely no longer contagious after 24 hours with no fever, the advisory says.
Visit www.cdc.gov/flu for more information.
