Influenza Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Case Of Avian Influenza Confirmed In Kanawha County

The first confirmed case of avian influenza in West Virginia since 2006 has been found in a non-commercial backyard flock in Kanawha County

The first confirmed case of avian influenza in West Virginia since 2006 has been found in a non-commercial backyard flock in Kanawha County.

According to the state Department of Health, public health risk is limited to those who had direct contact with the birds. The department is working with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) to monitor the exposed individuals to prevent transmission of the virus.

“This virus has been previously identified in surrounding states. It is important to note that the risk of transmission to humans is very low and limited to those with direct contact with the birds,” said West Virginia State Health Officer Dr. Matthew Christiansen. “If you have concerns about your exposure or symptoms, you should isolate at home and contact your primary care doctor and local health department.”

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1, is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among chickens through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure.

The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.

Avian influenza does not affect poultry meat or egg products, which remain safe to eat.

Christiansen reminds residents that the confirmed case does not present an immediate public health concern.

“We will continue to follow this closely and provide updates if the risk changes,” he said.

According to the WVDA, the farm is under quarantine to stop the spread of avian influenza to other flocks in the state and the birds and eggs on the farm will not enter the food system.

West Virginia poultry producers are encouraged to increase biosecurity to prevent the spread of the disease. Producers should take the following actions:

Limit, monitor and record any movement of people, vehicles, or animals on or off the farm.
Permit only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm to limit the chances of bringing the virus from an outside source.
Avoid visiting other poultry farms and any unnecessary travel off the farm.
Disinfect equipment, vehicles, footwear, and other items that are in contact with flocks.
Keep your flock away from wild or migratory birds, especially waterfowl.
Isolate any ill animals and contact your veterinarian.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

DHHR Changes Dashboard To Track Respiratory Illness Season

The Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) has replaced its COVID-19 dashboard with a new system to track three respiratory diseases.

According to a note on the West Virginia DHHR’s website, the COVID-19 dashboard ended on Oct. 11 as part of the DHHR’s transition from the emergency phase of COVID-19 response to sustainable public health practice.

This strategy mirrors that of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s approach to respiratory illness season.

The dashboard will still track cases of COVID-19 in West Virginia, in addition to influenza and RSV, the three major respiratory viruses that cause severe respiratory illness.

It will include regular updates on respiratory illness season and focus on data that gives the public the most accurate picture.

Flu symptoms accounted for 2.48 percent of emergency room visits in the state last week, COVID symptoms accounted for 3.19 percent and RSV accounted for .10 percent of the state’s emergency room visits as of Oct. 20, according to the dashboard.

The dashboard currently rates West Virginia’s weekly influenza activity indicator at “Minimal,” with a 1.41 percent decrease from last year in outpatient visits for influenza-like symptoms.

The dashboard also reports there have been 923 new cases of COVID-19 received by the agency since the last update, with .56 percent of weekly hospitalizations attributed to COVID-19 and weekly emergency room visits for COVID-19 symptoms accounting for 3.19 percent of emergency room visits.

The dashboard is updated every Friday by 10 a.m.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

Health Officials Prepare For Autumn Vaccinations

Ahead of this year’s viral respiratory season, health officials advise checking with your physician for vaccination recommendations.

Many recent developments in COVID-19 vaccines and RSV medication have left consumers feeling confused.

A new COVID-19 vaccine is due out in mid-September to address the variant EG.5 which is now the most common form of COVID-19 in the nation. It’s on the upswing in West Virginia.

The FDA recently approved the use of an RSV vaccine for adults and a separate monoclonal antibody, or preventative medication, for infants.

Many are left wondering which shot to get when, and in which order.

Dr. Michael Kilkenny, the CEO and health officer for the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, said he empathizes with the general public’s vaccine confusion.

“Certainly we’re excited to have the additional tools of new RSV treatment and or prevention in the form of the vaccine for adults, but also the monoclonal antibody for the infants,” Kilkenny said. “And then to have flu and COVID together again, this year.”

Dr. Lisa Costello is an assistant professor in pediatrics at WVU. She recommended checking with a physician about your vaccination status and to plan ahead.

“It’s going to be different than when it comes to COVID shots than it was in the past,” Costello said. “I think it’s going to be important to check with your healthcare provider, your local health department, your local pharmacy to see what they carry and to plan.”

Dr. Kathryn Moffett, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with WVU said physicians and experts track influenza season around the world, annually to gain insight on each year’s strain.

“Influenza, we’ve heard around the world, that in the Southern Hemisphere, South America and Australia that this year has been a particularly bad flu year,” Moffett said. “So if that predicts at all, what we’re going to have, watch out. We often look to see what’s happening in the rest of the world, and also what strains are circulating. And then our flu vaccine that we use is based on what is predicted, may come here based on what’s circulating in the rest of the world.”

This will be the first time the federal government is not buying all the COVID-19 vaccines and distributing them for free. A federal program to provide free shots to uninsured people at pharmacies probably won’t launch until mid-October, according to the CDC.

Doctor’s offices and other vaccine administrators will be responsible for securing vaccines and hoping there is enough demand to be reimbursed, even for insured individuals.

Kilkenny said the Cabell-Huntington Health Department will work to deliver vaccines to all who need them.

“What we understand at the health department is that it’s very important for people to be able to get their vaccines regardless of their ability to pay for them, and so we’re going to be certainly advocating for availability for people who can’t otherwise afford them,” Kilkenny said. “We’ll be looking to try to serve as many proposals as possible. Because we believe that everyone’s valuable, and everyone should get the same recommendations, and then they should have the same access.”

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

DHHR Confirms: W.Va. Child Died Of The Flu

One West Virginia child has died of the flu, marking it the first pediatric flu-related death in the state since the 2017/2018 season. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Public Health confirmed the incident Tuesday. To protect the family’s privacy, no details of the death were released.

“I want to extend the deepest sympathy for the child’s family,” said Shannon McBee is the outbreak epidemiologist for the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health. “If anything positive can come from such a tragic loss, we hope that people will understand that flu is a serious illness.”

McBee advised that all West Virginians six months of age and older are advised to get vaccinated against the flu. Those who are very susceptible to the virus and its complications include children under the age of five years old, the elderly, and people with underlying health conditions. Infants under six months cannot get a flu vaccine. “So the best way to protect those young children is to have everyone who comes in contact with that infant receive a flu vaccine and to also limit the infant’s exposure to large groups of individuals,” McBee said.

If symptoms include trouble breathing or a high fever that doesn’t go down with medication, health officials advise to seek medical attention immediately. Some patients may benefit from a prescription antiviral drug, which can help prevent flu infections from becoming more serious.

Other precautions people can take to protect against the spread of the flu and other viruses include: staying home when sick until fever-free for at least 24 hours, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and washing hands frequently.

A total of 78 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported nationwide during the 2019-20 influenza season.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from Marshall Health and Charleston Area Medical Center.

West Virginia Health Officials Urge Flu Vaccinations

West Virginia health officials are encouraging providers to ensure their patients over six months old get flu vaccinations.

The Bureau for Public Health plans to kick off National Influenza Vaccination Week on Friday in Charleston with Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gupta and others discussing the importance of getting flu shots and the need for the most vulnerable people to get them.

While seasonal flu outbreaks can occur as early as October, they are usually most prevalent between December and February and can continue as late as May.

Health Officials Expect Flu Shots to be More Effective

Marion County health officials expect flu vaccines to be much more effective this year compared to a year ago.

Janet Crigler, the infection preventionist at Fairmont Regional Medical Center, tells the Times West Virginia the flu shot was not as effective last year as it was in previous years. Crigler says the flu shot was only 23 percent effective because the virus mutated and the vaccine did not cover some strains of the virus.

Crigler says she believes vaccine shots will be much more effective this year, although there is never a guarantee.

According to the newspaper, one case of the flu has been confirmed in Marion County and 61 cases of influenza-like illnesses have been reported since the start of the flu season.