Worst of flu season yet to come

APPLETON - The flu virus continues to take its toll on Wisconsin and the country.

The CDC's latest flu report just updated Friday shows widespread flu in all but California and Mississippi in the continental United States last week. That's five more states than the week before.

Also, based on numbers of cases, Wisconsin is in the moderate category. Minnesota and Illinois are among 24 states in the high category.

Here in Wisconsin, 350 people a week are being hospitalized with the flu. The state had 2,837 confirmed influenza cases as of last Friday. But doctors warn the actual number of cases could be far higher with many people not seeking treatment at all.

"This is the worst it has been in the last two years, we've certainly had milder flu seasons," said ThedaCare system infection preventionist Miki Gould.

Gould says she expects cases to continue to rise for at least another month. The outbreak is forcing hospitals to make daily staffing adjustments to handle the influx.

"We are being prepared to ensure that we are providing accurate beds as well as staffing."

The flu is also taking its toll on employers. Community First Credit Union has 19 branches and 400 employees throughout the Fox Valley. Amanda Secor says a number of employees have been hit by the flu and they're being told to stay home.

"If they are not feeling well, we prefer that they stay home because we have a lot of member contact. We want to make sure we can keep everybody healthy this winter, so we have them stay home if they are not feeling well and we are doing a lot of disinfecting," said senior vice president of marketing Amanda Secor.

A trip to the doctor might be one of your first stops if you're not feeling well. But one place you're being asked to reconsider visiting is a nursing home. Doctors say the elderly are some of the most vulnerable to the flu.

Signs are popping up at businesses everywhere and by now most everyone is taking extra precautions.

Students returned to Lawrence University last week. Friday the school sent a letter to students warning them of the outbreak and how to try and prevent it from spreading through campus.

"The best line of defense is, if you are sick, stay home and take care of yourself," said Gould.

Advice that can't be repeated enough this year.

Experts say flu cases are lasting longer this year, but that it's not too late to get a flu shot and they say that's the best option to prevent or lessen the impact of the flu. But it takes two weeks for the shot to become fully effective.