As winter weather keeps more people indoors, health officials across Kentucky report a spike in respiratory illnesses and gastrointestinal infections, keeping clinics busy and patients sick for weeks.
The Woodford County Health Department is reporting a shift in flu trends, with about 40% of cases now identified as flu B, according to Cassie Prather, the department’s director.
“We’re seeing a little bit of everything right now. We’re seeing flu transition from being primarily flu A to being more flu B,” Prather said.
Many patients continue to deal with lingering symptoms and secondary infections that require multiple doctor visits and antibiotic treatments.
“I know people that have just been just downright miserable for several weeks, and this is taking more than one trip to the doctor, and more than one, sometimes in cases we’re seeing more than one antibiotic being prescribed,” Prather said.
Stomach bug adds to illness burden.
Lexington pediatrician Dr. Caitlynn Iddings with Pediatric and Adolescent Associates said she is treating a severe gastrointestinal illness alongside the flu surge.
“There’s been a pretty nasty tummy bug going around that’s causing a little bit of fever and bad vomiting and diarrhea,” Iddings said.
She is seeing more flu B cases among younger children, who are experiencing stronger symptoms. Strep throat is also circulating widely and spreading quickly as children return to school.
With students back in classrooms, health officials stress the need for thorough hygiene practices beyond basic handwashing.
“Chromebooks, iPads, cell phones, making sure we’re sanitizing those. If it is one of these other more highly contagious tummy bug strains, making sure you’re bleaching high touch surfaces, making sure that they really are using soap and water because that mechanical rubbing it off, rinsing it off is what’s getting rid of it. Some of the hand sanitizers aren’t going to kill it,” Iddings said.
The flu season began later than usual but has proven severe, with influenza-like illnesses expected to continue through March and possibly into April. The virus has affected all age groups, from infants to college students, though toddlers and babies have experienced the most severe impact.
Health officials said respiratory illnesses peaked over the past week. The flu can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of secondary bacterial infections such as strep throat.
Experts recommend staying home until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-rereducing medications to help prevent spreading illness. Officials also emphasized that it is still not too late to receive a flu shot.
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