After peaking in December, health experts forecast another boost in the number of North Texas flu patients as holiday vacations end.
Dallas County Health Department figures show a high of 1,475 positive flu tests the week of Dec. 13, then 1,359 the week of Dec. 20 and 1,187 the week of Dec. 27.
Health Director Zachary Thompson said cases typically rise when people return to places where they are more likely to come in contact with the flu.
“People were on vacation. Now people are returning to Dallas County, going back to school. The true numbers will come out as we move forward in the next two weeks,” he said. “Hopefully no one is going back to work or school sick, and so that’s the key point to reduce the transmission of the virus.”
Care Now clinics in North Texas saw the number of flu patients peak around Christmas.
Waiting rooms were full and staff worked overtime, according to Dr. Martin Jones, medical director for 23 Care Now clinics in North Texas.
“I doubt that we’ll see anything like this, but there will be a bump that comes about a week after kids start school,” Jones said.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Medication is available to treat the flu but Jones said it works best when started within 48 hours of getting sick.
“So, if somebody comes in much later than that, the medicine we have for it is less effective,” he said.
Experts say it is still not too late to get protection from a flu shot, even though this season’s shot is not as effect against some flu strains going around.
Thompson and Jones agree some protection is better than no protection. And Jones said patients who came down with the flu even after a shot seemed to have milder cases than those who had no shot at all.
