Dallas County Health and Human Services report a three percent increase in positive flu tests between Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, the most recent week with reporting data.
Positive flu tests have been climbing since the week of Oct. 28 when they were at 3.9 percent, except for a dip Nov. 25 when the dropped from 10.1 percent to 9.8 percent.
Positive tests for the week of Dec. 2 were 12.8 percent. Of the 267 positive tests returned, 223 were positive influenza A tests while 44 were B tests.
DCHHS said in their most recent report that the most frequently identified influenza type in Dallas County has been influenza type A (87 percent) with the predominant subtype H3N2.
Activity of respiratory syncytial virus, which causes infections in the lungs and breathing passages, increased with 29.6 percent of tests from area surveillance sites testing positive. RSV is very common in children and adults and symptoms often mimic the common cold.
To date in 2017 there have been no adult or pediatric deaths associated with the influenza virus. Over the last three years, an average of one child and 15 adults die from flu-associated causes.
DCHHS offers the flu vaccine free to all uninsured and low income Dallas County residents. The flu vaccine DCHHS provides is an all-in-one vaccine that protects against multiple flu strains including the H1N1 virus.
The adult vaccine is given in the adult immunization clinic on the first floor of the DCHHS building located at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway in Dallas. The children’s vaccine is available at all DCHHS immunization clinics. Clinic hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments aren’t necessary. For more information, call 214-819-2162.
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