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Flu Cases Creeping on Akron-Canton: Relatively Mild Season Shows Signs of Activity

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 February 2006, 12:01 CST

By Elizabeth Suh, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Feb. 28--Influenza has started rolling into the Akron-Canton area, but so far, the season has been a mild one, health officials say.

The Akron Health Department reported Monday that area hospitals, laboratories and pharmacies were dealing with an increasing number of flu cases.

"The influenza activity throughout the country has been rather mild and just been slowly increasing throughout the season," said Dr. Marguerite Erme, the Akron department's disease control medical officer.

Flu tends to stick around in a region for five to six weeks once it appears, she said, and there's often a later, second wave of cases.

Dr. Norman Christopher, director of emergency trauma services at Akron Children's Hospital, said flu cases there climbed significantly in the past week.

And at Medina Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, seven of the 19 confirmed cases in the past three months were diagnosed in the past week, said Dr. Stacey Memberg, a pediatrician.

Erme said people can still benefit from getting a flu shot, since immunity from the vaccine kicks in after about two weeks.

But for those who do get influenza, antivirals might be the answer.

Doctors can prescribe antivirals such as Tamiflu to patients who come in with the flu within 48 hours of the start of symptoms. Antivirals shorten the duration of symptoms by about a day and lessen their severity.

Tamiflu supplies have been adequate this flu season despite worries that people might stockpile supplies of the drug to use in case of an avian flu epidemic. Area doctors said patients have not been requesting the drug for that purpose.

To maintain a Tamiflu supply throughout the regular flu season, manufacturer Roche Laboratories had limited shipments of the drug to the United States in October. But last month, Roche lifted those restrictions.

Dr. Dennis McCluskey, a family physician in Mogadore, said he's happy about one difference he's noticed this season: Fewer patients are demanding antibiotics to combat the flu.

Because influenza is a virus, antibiotics, which kill bacteria, are ineffective in treating it. Furthermore, the unnecessary use of antibiotics can contribute to the development of drug-resistant strains of bacteria and other complications.

McCluskey said he treats flu patients for symptoms, like cough, and tells them to rest. "Get the TV clicker," he instructs.

"And they own the couch for the next few days," he said.

Elizabeth Suh can be reached at 330-996-3748 or esuh@thebeaconjournal.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

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Source: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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