New Hanover County hotbed for flu

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s here, it’s there, it’s everywhere. It’s the flu.

“Every week there are a number of cases that roll through the emergency room. Influenza and influenza like illness is something that is regularly tracked during this season,” Doctor Paul Kamistuka, an infectious disease consultant, said.

The flu season in North Carolina started on October first and there has already been three deaths in North Carolina. Two were from the eastern part of the state. The other is not known. General practices around the area report many patients coming in with flu symptoms, even after getting a flu shot.

“Most of the flu cases in North Carolina that we’ve seen so far have occurred in New Hanover County. Last week, it was some 90% of cases,” Kamitsuka said.

He also says a group gets together in February to predict what strains will be most prevalent the next flu season.

“It takes six months with current technology to create enough flu vaccine, so there’s that delay,” Kamitsuka said.

But this can sometimes lead to vaccines not matching the exact strains that circulate during the flu season.

“They collect all the flu strains that are circulating and they make a prediction as to what is likely to be circulating in flu season. On a good year, they’re about 50% effective. 50/50. But so are seat belts. 50/50,” Kamitsuka said.

He says these chances will go up once technological advances are made in vaccine development. But for now, a flu shot is better than no flu shot.