Health officials urge washing hands and keeping eye on elderly and young

Health officials locally and nationally are saying a mutated influenza virus is responsible for the widespread occurrence of the illness.

The vaccination this year is similar to recent years because the virus had been stable. But this strain is slightly different — what’s called antigenic drift — and has led to vulnerability for people with high risk for flu complications, typically the very young, the elderly or people with chronic health conditions.

Getting the vaccine or having already had it is more effective than not having the shot at all, said Freeborn County Public Health Nurse Sue Yost said.

Flu shots still are available at the Freeborn County Health Department, at Mayo Clinic Health System of Albert Lea and at local pharmacies.

The flu gets categorized by health officials as sporadic, local, regional or widespread, and the Minnesota Health Department last week announced the flu is widespread in the state. Iowa, Wisconsin and North Dakota remain listed as regional. South Dakota is sporadic. The closest states in the widespread category are Illinois and Colorado.

“There is a lot of flu going around,” Yost said.

She said it is affecting nursing homes especially hard.

Wendy Nelson, who is in charge of staff development and infection control at St. John’s Lutheran Community, said senior housing in Freeborn County has been hit hard.

“We’re keeping it contained,” she said.

They have hand-washing gel in every room, in addition to regularly washing hands in sinks. Wearing masks and ensuring everyone is vaccinated has helped, too, Nelson said.

On Wednesday, the Alden-Conger School announced it would cancel classes for Thursday and today because so many faculty, staff and students were out with various illnesses, not merely the flu. Some had colds, strep throat, mononucleosis and pneumonia.

Kim Nelson, executive director of The Children’s Center, said the child-care facility has had six cases of influenza, which get reported to the state for tracking purposes. However, it’s less than 5 percent of the enrollment, she said.

The Children’s Center has seen more than the flu, she said. Children have been getting strep throat, croup, common colds, high fevers and conjunctivitis.

Nelson said the staff was following state procedures on cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting to lessen the harmful effects of germs.

Yost recommended washing hands regularly and particularly after touching shared surfaces such as grocery carts and door knobs. Covering mouths when coughing or sneezing with a sleeve instead of a hand helps prevent transfer, too, she said.