More hospitals and schools across the US are imposing renewed visitor restrictions and closures amid concerning spikes in a deadly ‘super flu’, as experts urge the public to keep watch for warning signs.
Cases of the dangerous flu strain H3N2 subclade K are climbing in more than three dozen states. They are on track to overshadow last year’s particularly severe flu season.
Detroit Medical Center has restricted visitor access to protect patients and staff from the spreading virus. New guidelines limit guest numbers, visitors under 12 and anyone 13 and up who is currently sick.
The change comes after masking requirements for hospital staff and visitors in New Jersey and New York hospitals were reinstated. Cases of flu in both states have been ticking steadily upward since the start of November, following the trends seen during last year’s brutal flu season.
Following multiple students falling ill during Monday’s Mass, Villa Duchesne Catholic School in Frontenac, Missouri, has shut down and canceled classes through Friday for emergency testing and investigation.
In a similar move this week, Iowa’s Moulton-Udell school district canceled classes and sports after nearly 30 percent of students and staff fell ill. Officials labeled the two-day shutdown a necessary response to an ‘extremely high’ rate of sickness.
This year’s dominant flu strain is brand new to people’s immune systems, making them highly vulnerable and at an increased risk of severe, hospitalizing illness.
Public health officials are urging people to keep watch for typical flu symptoms, which tend to come on abruptly, including fever, fatigue, chills, headache, cough, body aches, congestion, runny nose and coughing.
This year’s strain has already been dubbed the ‘super flu’ in the UK, where it is pushing hospitals beyond capacity, closing schools and causing revivals of Covid-era mask mandates.
In the US, rates of flu and flu-related hospitalizations remain low overall, but they are rising quickly in certain states and counties.
In St Louis County, Missouri, where Villa Duchesne is located, new cases jumped 65 percent in a single week, from 29 confirmed in the last week of November to 48 in the week ending December 7.
The total number of cases is currently 141.
A spokesperson for Villa Duchesne, which is closed through the end of the week, said Tuesday: ‘We are taking this situation very seriously, and we are committed to the safety of our students, faculty, and staff.
‘No classes were held today to allow us to conduct additional testing for peace of mind.
‘All testing results have been normal. No hazardous or abnormal readings were observed on any piece of monitoring equipment throughout our main building.’
The announcement from Villa Duchesne came mere days after the one from the Moulton-Udell school district.
Detroit Medical Center has enacted visitor restrictions to guard against the virus. New rules limit the total number of guests and prohibit anyone under 12 or any person who is sick.
While Iowa’s overall flu activity is currently low, the state’s health department reported that key indicators are rising.
The rate of lab-confirmed cases is following a trajectory similar to last year, which saw a gradual increase before a sharp spike.
Hospitals are just as concerned. The Detroit Medical Center has not announced a return to masking but will limit patients to two visitors and not allow any visitor under 12.
Visitors age 13 and over who have a fever, cough or rash are asked to choose another time to visit during a period of wellness.
Major New Jersey hospital systems have reinstituted their own mask mandates. Hackensack Meridian Health announced Monday that anyone visiting an admitted patient will be required to wear a face mask.
RWJ Barnabas Health Medical Group, which has 14 hospitals throughout the Garden State, also implemented a mask rule as of last week.
Recent data from the New York State Department of Health shows that flu is now officially ‘prevalent’ in the state, with over 32,769 confirmed cases and more than 1,743 hospitalizations this season.
The department decreed that all unvaccinated personnel in regulated healthcare and residential settings must wear a surgical or procedure mask in any patient- or resident-care area.
Health officials urge the public to watch for abrupt flu symptoms, which include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, headache, congestion and body aches
The flu virus’ unpredictability and rapid mutation make it unclear whether H3N2 will remain the dominant strain or become more severe.
The symptoms and severity appear similar to those of a regular seasonal flu, which can still be debilitating and disrupt children’s education and people’s work.
Public health experts have advised people to note any new symptoms, including sudden extreme tiredness, body aches, nausea or vomiting, cough and fever.
Looks like the jooze have switched up the 5G