For the second consecutive year, Louisiana leads the nation in early-season flu cases, according to CDC data. Last week, Louisiana reported the highest flu activity nearing the ‘very high’ range. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says over 11-percent of flu tests in Louisiana returned positive, compared to the national average of 3.5-percent.
“Typically, we are among the first to see these high level of activity. Often times, we start seeing increases in the spread of the flu in the southern states.”
The Louisiana Department of Health reports high RSV activity as well, with an 18% test positivity rate. Sokol says many emergency room visits involve either flu, RSV, COVID-19, or a combination of these illnesses.
“We saw about 5% of all Emergency Department visits in our state that were related to flu like illness.”
Vaccination is still available and can help reduce the severity and spread of the flu. Sokol says other preventive measures, including handwashing, covering coughs, staying home when ill, and getting a flu shot, remain critical.
“I also like to remind people to kind of avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth because germs can spread that way. And always a good idea this time of year to clean frequently touched surfaces.”
