Story by Chris Lawrence
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kanawha County’s Chief Health Officer said this year’s strain of the flu has turned out to be worse than expected.
“It has been a real butt-kicker as some of the patients have told me. I’m talking some really young, healthy men are telling me they hurt all over and can’t even go to work,” said Dr. Steven Eshenaur.
The strain which is spreading rapidly with person to person contact is H3N2. According to Eshenaur it comes with not only aches, pains, and fever, but also stomach pain and nausea issues as well. The spread was so bad in Wetzel County school was moved to remote learning for students through at least Friday at Magnolia High School. At Magnolia, 140 students missed school Monday with flu symptoms. In Ohio a pediatric patient recently died of the strain.
“A lot of people think, ‘well, it’s just the flu.’ Well the flu can be pretty devastating, especially for those at risk,” he said.
Medical experts try to craft a flu vaccine each year to anticipate what will be most effective for protection. Some years are better than others and this year’s vaccine isn’t as effective because of the new viral strain. Despite that, Eshenaur said it’s still highly recommended that everybody get a flu shot.
“It still does help reduce both the severity and length of illness. More importantly for the elderly population it keeps them out of the hospital because this strain is no joke,” he said.