Flu on the rise: Health experts talk spike in West Tennessee
JACKSON, Tenn. — Healthcare professionals are noticing an increase in respiratory illnesses statewide.
If you’ve been hearing more coughs and sniffles lately, you’re not just imagining it. Health officials say flu cases are spiking across West Tennessee.
“We’re seeing flu cases increase pretty rapidly in our area, but this is what we expect for this time of year, and, unfortunately, we are going to see probably more cases increase,” said Ginger Rowsey, Public Information Officer for Madison County Health.
Typical flu symptoms may include fever, cough, congestion, and body aches. According to the TN Department of Health, these symptoms will improve on their own after about a week.
“We do this every year,” Rowsey said. “It’s nothing new, but it is something that we should continue to take seriously because even though, flu can be very common, it can also have the potential to be very serious, even in healthy adults, but particularly in young kids, older adults, and those with chronic conditions.”
So what can you do to protect yourself and others?
Rowsey says to get your flu shot if you haven’t already.
Even if it does not prevent every illness, it can help reduce how sick you get and lower your risk of serious complications.
“It is important to take care of yourself. Take care of others, prevent the spread. And when we have more flu in our community, there’s more chances for exposure, at school, at work,” said Rowsey.
Don’t forget to wash hands often and cover any coughs and sneezes that may occur.
“If you’re at home with the flu, if you start having trouble breathing, sigs of dehydration, trouble concentrating, feelings of dizziness, things like that, you do want to seek medical care right away,” Rowsey said.
If you are feeling under the weather, Rowsey recommends you stay home and recover.
If you have flu and are having trouble breathing, chest pain, a high fever that won’t come down, or symptoms that suddenly get worse, seek medical care right away.
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