If you haven't had the flu yet, don't start bragging about it

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    If you haven't had the flu yet, don't start bragging about it Feb. 06, 2001- This winter, the flu season started later than normal in Lancaster County and across the state, but doctors say it's starting to pick up. They also want to remind people there's still time to get a flu shot. State officials couldn't offer statistics on the exact number of flu cases reported; they just use sampling data. But, locally, clinics and hospitals are seeing more cases. Dr. Alan knows all about the influenza virus. He helps run the Aument Family Health Center in Quarryville, a tracking site for the flu. He also is a director of Family and Community Medicine with Lancaster General Hospital. "We didn't see many cases early on, but in the last couple weeks we got a lot of cases," said . "There's been a significant increase. Everybody was sort of predicting this," he said. "A lot of so- called healthy folk who were not immunized because there wasn't enough vaccine early on are starting to come down with the flu." was referring to a manufacturing shortage of the flu vaccine that delayed many from getting the shot. McGarvey, spokesman for the state Department of Health, said the flu vaccine didn't start showing up in mass quantities until early December. Normally, he said, it's available near the end of October. "That was actually our big concern this year," said McGarvey. "But, fortunately, we didn't get our first reported case of the flu until Jan. 4. Usually, we start to see our first cases the beginning of December." According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Pennsylvania is listed as a state with sporadic rather than widespread cases. More widespread areas of the flu can be found in Virginia and land, according to the CDC. But, doctors say the flu is starting to kick in here. So, watch out. According to officials for Ephrata Community Hospital, actual cases of influenza now are being reported there. Spokeswoman Joanne Eshelman said the hospital, like other health-care facilities, uses a quick test that can detect the presence of the virus in saliva prac tically right away. LGH spokesman Lines said the hospital has used the rapid test to sample cases of people who think they have the flu. In a random sampling, two rapid flu tests were positive in December and four were positive during the last week of January, according to Lines. "I think we've seen a lot of otherwise healthy people with the flu," said Dr. Breton of the Strasburg Family Health Center. "We've done a pretty good job vaccinating people in the high-risk group, but others who didn't get the vaccine are coming in sick, mostly in the last three weeks." Breton said the CDC lowered the age to 50 for people recommended to get a flu shot this year. Previously, those 65 and up were encouraged to get the flu vaccine. McGarvey noted, "Usually it's about now that we start to hit the peak season with the flu in nursing homes and hospitals." He said the state receives actual throat swabbing samples from patients suspected of having the flu. These samples are provided by several doctors in each county on a regular basis. The two strains that are being reported this year are the B/ Yamanashi and the A/Caledonia, said McGarvey. He said the flu vaccine formulated for this year includes immunization from those two strains. Doctors agreed that not only those over 50 should think about a flu shot. The flu vaccine is strongly recommended for children with asthma, those with chronic or serious health condition, pregnant women and health-care providers. "I think since the vaccine was late, a lot of people didn't get the flu shot in December," explained . "Then they didn't see much around, so they thought they could get by without it. "I had a fellow in my office last week in his 20s," recalled . "He had a 103-degree fever and he said he felt like he had been hit by a truck and, of course, he had the cough. He told me he should have gotten his flu shot, but didn't because they didn't have enough (vaccine). He was so sick he couldn't sit up on the bed." said people should check with their doctor to make sure the vaccine is available and then schedule a flu shot as soon as possible. "It takes a week to 10 days until the immunization becomes effective," said . Breton said the best doctors can do now is to give medication that shortens and lightens the impact of the flu. But, it must be given in the first 48 hours of symptoms. "From all indications, it's been a mild season so far," according to McGarvey, who acknowledges the state's statistics are compiled a week or two after local doctors report them. "But don't try to predict the flu," he said. "Basically, about the time you think you know what's going to happen with the flu, it doesn't." Colds And Flu Are Having a Field Day

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