Friday, January 11, 2013
Influenza has hit Northern Virginia hard, and emergency rooms are filling up with people who have the flu. It's not too late to get a flu vaccine.
Update 1:09 p.m.: Inova Hospitals, including the one in Alexandria, are restricting visitors to avoid a flu outbreak among patients and hospital employees. Read more about Inova's visitor restrictions during flu season here. Original story, 9:52 a.m. Inova, the largest hospital system in Northern Virginia, is seeing a spike in the number of flu patients visiting their emergency rooms, a spokesman said. It makes sense — the Centers for Disease Control counts Virginia as one of the states seeing a spike in flu cases. "We, like everyone else in the metro region, have experienced an uptick over the past four weeks in both outpatient visits to our [emergency rooms] as well as in-patient placements for those with flu-related complications," …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Alexandria flu rates are already high, according to Google trends. Here's where to get an influenza vaccine, how to recognize symptoms and what to know about treatment if you get sick.
According to this week's CDC Flu activity report, influenza levels are on the increase across the country. In Northern Virginia, flu levels are already high. If you're considering getting the vaccine, here are some places near Del Ray where you can get a flu shot (besides your own doctor, of course): Shoppers at Potomac Yard, Target at Potomac Yard, or CVS/Pharmacy on East Monroe Avenue. See more options here. For more on the flu in Alexandria, see: CDC Says Flu Season is Here: Northern Virginia Rates Increasing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following information:
Flu activity in the DC metro area is already high, according to Google's Flu Trends.
Flu season is coming early in parts of the United States: At this time last year, flu cases were much lower in Northern Virginia than they are now, according to data on Google's Flu Trends. Overall in Virginia, activity is considered high and heading quickly toward an "intense" rating. Activity is similar in DC. It was considered moderate at this time in 2011, according to Flu Trends. Flu activity is strongest in the South and southeastern United States, according to a recent release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also offers this information and tips about avoiding influenza this winter: See also: Where to Get a Flu Vaccine in Alexandria
