Area Flu Cases Continue to Rise, Reach 'Intense' Levels
Chicago and its surrounding suburbs are seeing a steady rise in flu cases.
Area health agencies are reporting that this year's flu season is particularly intense.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring "widespread" influenza activity in Illinois this year. According to the Cook County Department of Public Health the number of people experiencing influenza-like symptoms continues to increase in the suburbs. Those suffering from the illness are showing symptoms that are much more severe than in previous years.
Drug manufacturers have also been feeling the effects of the increased number of cases. The makers of Tamiflu, which slows down flu symptoms, reported a shortage of the drug, according to Reuters.
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The CDC is reporting that the Great Lakes region is the nation's hardest hit with about 60 percent of people checked for the flu testing positive.
Google's Flu Trends page classified the flu rate in Illinois and Chicago as 'intense' and shows levels much higher than previous years.
Several local hospitals have been forced this week to temporarily detour ambulances as the number of patients sick with the flu overwhelmed emergency rooms, according the Chicago Tribune.
The Chicago Department of Public Health recommends a few simple steps to help prevent the spread of the disease. The most important is a flu shot for everyone six months and older. Other steps include:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Don't share cups, straws or anything that goes in the mouth.
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze, and promptly discard used facial tissues.
- If you are sick, stay home.
Read More: Where to Get a Flu Shot Locally
By Dan Lambert
Joyce Wright
8:37 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
I'll be honest, I never have and never will buy into the Flu Shot hype.
Neither myself nor my family has had the flu, geez, in I can't even remember when.
What we do believe in, AND PRACTICE: (you're gonna roll your eyes, but it's true.)
LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE, and medicine be your food - Hippocrates
We eat home-cooked, mainly pesticide/growth-hormone, GMO free meals every day. We drink water as our main beverage. And yes, we work with a Complementary Care Chiropractic Physician to help us naturally care for our family's health - and it works for us.
Did I mention my 11 year old son does not have one cavity in his mouth, nor has he ever, ever been on one mediciation.
What is out there right now as far as health care is not working. Cancer is at 1 in 3 people. Breast cancer, 1 in 8. Disease at epidemic levels. Autism rates in boys alone are at 1 in 54 ??
Again, we need to look somewhere else for answers. Is the answer more drugs, more vaccines, more surgeries that cut and burn things out. I don't believe so in my heart of hearts. We've lost our way . . and I thing getting back to basics with nature and naturals measures is the answer.
Good luck All :)
Paula Gorski
8:50 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Congrats to you for putting this out there. i myself have never nor will I ever have a flu shot. Instead I take a Very Very High Quality Nutritional Supplement, not the junk on the store shelves. It's about keeping the Immune System strong to be able to defend itself. Not many people eat home cooked meals anymore and the disease rate is skyrocketing. Kuddos to you!
Marty at Great Harvest
1:04 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I agree. Certainly larger populations, world-wide travel and trade, and drug-resistant germs have fed the growing list of illnesses. Still, it makes sense that maintaining our bodies in good form with the purest, and least-processed, freshest forms of food, like the wheat berries we mill daily at Great Harvest, goes a long way toward avoiding illnesses. Hope you have a happy, jhealthy winter!