SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Across the nation, the most recent CDC estimates indicate at least 11 million illnesses and 120,000 hospitalizations so far this flu season.
According to the CDC’s most recent Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report, Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) Activity is ‘Very High’ in Indiana and Michigan.
The CDC system monitors visits for respiratory illnesses that include fever (100+), plus a cough or sore throat, referred to as ILI.
Indiana's Influenza Dashboard shows 17 total influenza-associated deaths for the current season.
Dr. Jonathan Beyer is the Medical Director for the Berrien County Health Department in Michigan.
“In my role as an emergency physician, which is my other job where I work, in Southwest Michigan, I have been seeing a lot of influenza and influenza-like illnesses in the emergency departments and not just minor disease. I'm talking hospitalizations, people going to the ICU, both adults, elderly and children,” said Beyer.
Beyer says the difference between this flu season and last is severity and how early it’s hitting us.
“I know that for emergency department visits right now, according to MDHHS, eight percent of ER visits are for influenza. And you're like, 'eight percent, that doesn't sound like much.' That means almost one in 10 people walking into the ER have influenza. And just to give you an idea, five weeks ago, four weeks ago, that number was less than two,” said Beyer.
He says part of this is low vaccination rates. Beyer says roughly one in four Michiganders is vaccinated against the flu this season, 23.9 percent. Beyer says those vaccination numbers are a little lower in Berrien County.
Beyer says 95 percent constitutes a ‘good’ vaccination rate, as that is the commonly used number for herd immunity.
"The vaccine doesn't prevent you from getting influenza. What the vaccine does is it diminishes the chances of you being hospitalized or dying from influenza," said Beyer.
He says right now is not peak flu season yet.
“We're about four to five weeks early for where the peaks were last year, which is very concerning, because that means if it's this bad now, what's it going to be like in four or five weeks?” said Bayer.
Beyer says it’s not too late to get your flu vaccine if you are eligible. He also recommends covering your mouth and nose when coughing, staying home when sick and good hand hygiene.
“Vaccination is safe and effective, and the best thing people can do for themselves, their family, their children, their loved ones, and their community— is vaccination against influenza,” said Beyer.