Influenza in Chase County is currently labeled as “widespread,” according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
    “Our numbers were high the past week for the number of positive influenza swabs we had,” said Shannon Kuhlmann,  Head of Infection Prevention at Chase County Clinic (CCC) and Chase County Community Hospital (CCCH).
    “(Monday) we had over half as many in one day as we did for the past week,” she said.
    As of Jan. 1, the local clinic has seen 30 positive Influenza A’s. Two of those were A & B positive.
    “Most of those have been in the past week and half,” Kuhlmann said.
    The majority of what CCC is seeing is Influenza A, mainly afflicting school-aged kids and younger with a few exceptions that are starting to hit adults.
    “We have only had two Influenza B’s recently,” Kuhlmann said.
    The primary strain being seen in Nebraska is H3N2, which is an A-strain.
    In general, flu vaccines tend to work better against Influenza B and Influenza A (H1N1) and offer less protection against the H3N2 strain.
    “This being said, even though you received your Influenza vaccine you could still get Influenza,” Kuhlmann added.
    If you do, however, studies have been shown that it should reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities.

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