Flu in Birmingham—what to look for + how to stay healthy

Flu rates are reaching some of the highest levels seen in decades around the nation now, and Jefferson County is no exception: According to the Jefferson County Department of Health, 11.6% of patient visits last week were due to a flu-like illness (baseline rate is 2.64%). This is two percentage points above where it was this time last year.

And that goes along with what health professionals are seeing on a nation-wide scale, with some reporting flu levels higher than we’ve seen in 25 years. Rates will likely continue to fluctuate as the season progresses.

The good news? It’s not too late to take a few preventative measures before the symptoms start. We talked to local experts for the best advice to stay healthy now—or start feeling better quickly if the flu finds its way to you.

What flu symptoms are showing up in Birmingham now?

Symptoms and positive tests are popping up earlier than experts typically see this time of year, with Type A H3N2 being the dominant strain, even earning the nickname of “the superflu.” According to experts, the primary symptoms of this type include:

• fever
• cough
• muscle aches

“What I typically think of, and what I tell my patients, is that it’s feeling like you’ve been hit by a Mack truck. So one day you’re feeling fine. The next day, you just feel terrible.

And it’s characterized a lot by fevers, muscle aches, back pain…you’re just really, really exhausted.”

_{Rachael Lee, M.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham Chief Health Care Epidemiologist}

Dr. Lee says the primary difference between this flu and the typical cold is that the regular cold virus presents with more of a runny nose, cough and congestion and is less likely to have fevers than the flu.

What can you do to keep healthy in Birmingham?

Common sense prevails when it comes to the flu—even when it’s this widespread. The first line of defense? Washing your hands as often and as thoroughly as possible.

In addition to staying home if you feel symptoms come on, our Birmingham experts cautioned that it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine or wear a mask. Though the current dominant strain grew to prominence after this year’s vaccine was developed, they mentioned it may still help, especially when paired with face coverings:

“It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine this season! Early studies are showing that it’s still effective, and nothing is 100% effective in medicine. But these vaccines really do work well to prevent hospitalization. If I could help reduce one day of having symptoms of flu, that’s one of the reasons that I would take something like a vaccine.

If you yourself or your kids have kind of illnesses that could put you at risk for being hospitalized, maybe you’re immunocompromised, or you have some breathing problems, it’s okay to wear masks. So you may want to dust those off the shelf to try to prevent the spread of infection.”

_{Rachael Lee, M.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham Chief Health Care Epidemiologist}

What to do if you feel like you might have the flu

At-home tests are a great line of defense to know if you have the flu vs Covid or something else, as well as what strain (A or B) you might have. This is helpful info to pass along to a doctor when and if the time comes, or it could be the first step to receiving medications from your doctor or Telehealth provider.

Use the below as starting points for treating the flu in adults—though it all comes down to any pre-existing conditions that may put you more at health risk, such as heart or kidney disease, chronic infections or lung issues.

• If you’re typically healthy + symptoms are tolerable: Rest, drink lots of fluids + take over-the-counter medicines.
• If you have chronic conditions that may cause complications: Notify your physician ASAP to see if a prescription may be right for you + so they can monitor your health.
• If symptoms become severe: Seek immediate medical attention via your nearest hospital or urgent care provider.

“The emergency room is for severe symptoms like chest pain, trouble breathing, inability to keep fluids down or confusion. If you or a family member has those symptoms, we want to see you.

For more typical flu symptoms—fever, body aches, cough, congestion or sore throat—your primary care doctor or an urgent care is usually the right place to go.

_{Kevin Cope, DO, Emergency Department Medical Director at Grandview Medical Center}

For children, however, experts caution to pay closer attention:

“Unfortunately, this season so far we’ve had nine pediatric deaths. And every one of those is a kid that was loved by somebody, and it’s very heartbreaking to see that.

From ages zero to four, those are the people that are at highest risk, and we can’t really do vaccines until you’re about six months of age. So that’s why we really want to do everything as a community to protect those who are most vulnerable.”

_{Rachael Lee, M.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham Chief Health Care Epidemiologist}

What are you doing to stay healthy this flu season, Birmingham? Let us know your best tips @bhamnow.