Raleigh, N.C. — The number of patients complaining of flu-like symptoms has spiked in hospital emergency rooms across the Triangle in recent weeks.

At WakeMed in Raleigh, for example, emergency room physicians treated about 300 people last month for flu, compared with 32 in December.

Dr. Robert Park said the the number is soaring because many people have skipped getting a flu shot this season after worries about the H1N1 flu virus prompted more people to get vaccinated a year ago.

"Last year, there was no flu really, no major flu season," Park said. "This year, it's come back with vengeance."

Asi Jackson said he simply didn't think about getting a flu shot.

Sharon Evans, meanwhile, said she makes a point of getting a shot every year.

"The last time I had the flu, I thought I was absolutely going to die, and I didn't want to get it again," Evans said.

A flu shot is needed annually because the flu strains usually change from one year to the next, Park said.

For symptoms like fever, chills and body aches, he recommended that people see their primary care physician first and then head to the ER if the symptoms become worse.

"If you start having horrible symptoms like dizziness, passing out, difficulty breathing – red-flag symptoms that something's not right – then absolutely, you should be seen," he said.

Otherwise, he said, getting plenty of rest and fluids and taking Motrin or Tylenol for the aches and fever are the best treatments for the flu.

When the novel virus hit in 2009, college-age people seemed especially vulnerable, striking a group that is generally less inclined to get vaccinated or to seek treatment when sick.

"One of the reasons we see severe disease in young adults is it may be their body's reaction to the virus," said Dr. David Weber, an infectious disease specialist at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

"It's not the virus itself — it's having a vigorous response, and some of the damage may be from their own immune system."

In the case of Katie Taylor, an 18-year-old Cary High School student who aspired to attend Meredith College next fall on her way to becoming a veterinarian, the virus worked to damage her heart.

Her father, Roy Taylor, said Katie seemed to suffer mild symptoms — a runny nose and coughing — for about two weeks, but then became dehydrated and developed achiness and pain. She went to WakeMed hospital last Wednesday and was admitted. The next day, her condition worsened, and she was driven by ambulance to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

Katie died that night as doctors battled to stop oxygen deprivation caused by her failing heart.

"It was very fast," Roy Taylor said. "I want to make people aware that this is a very serious strain and they shouldn't take it lightly."

Taylor said he also wanted to urge people, especially young people, to get vaccinated against the virus.

"There is still time for vaccination," said Dr. Zack Moore, North Carolina's public health epidemiologist, adding that a flu shot takes about two weeks for full protection to kick in.

"I don't make a lot of predictions, but I can promise you there will still be flu circulating two or three weeks from now," Moore said.

He said this year's flu shot is well-matched to the three strains of virus circulating most widely, but one of the complications this year is that all three strains are making the rounds. Last year, the pandemic H1N1 virus dominated, crowding out nearly all other strains.

Among the circulating viruses is a strain of influenza B, which usually causes less severe illness. This year, however, it's hitting hard.

Weber, at UNC Hospitals, said last year's reprieve from strains other than H1N1 may have diminished immunity to influenza B and others.

"Even for people who have had the flu, or think they had flu, I'd still recommend getting the vaccine," said Moore, the state epidemiologist. "If they actually had flu, they had one strain of three circulating, so they could be infected with others."

Influenza-like illnesses are up in North Carolina with a 2 percent increase in outpatient visits confirmed to have flu-like symptoms.

According to a report by North Carolina Public Health, the state saw a spike between Jan. 15 and Jan 22, with doctor visits involving influenza illnesses rising from 2.57 to 4.33 percent.

The State Laboratory of Public Health identified 56 positive influenza results during the week ending Jan. 22 among 97 flu specimens tested.

Gaston County Health Department Public Information Officer Shannon Club said the flu “appears to be widespread” throughout Gaston County.

“When we start to hear about clusters or spikes in diseases, we’ll call around and get oriented,” Clubb said. “Based on what we have heard so far from doctors’ offices, we are seeing it pretty widespread at this time.”

The rampant illness is taking its toll throughout the state and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North Carolina’s influenza-like illness activity level is listed as high.

“North Carolina has widespread flu – that’s the highest (level) you can get,” CDC spokesman Jeff Dimond said. “There’s flu in every county in the state.”

Dimond said influenza-like illnesses are rampant throughout the country and the most important thing people can do now is get a flu shot.

“Now that it’s widespread in North Carolina, I would suggest the urgency to get a shot has risen somewhat,” he said.

According to Dimond, there is a gray area between the time you are vaccinated and the time protection kicks in.

“From the time you get a shot until the time you get protected is two weeks,” he said. “There are three different strains of flu and they’re all going to make you feel rotten.”

Dimond said the shot is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age and if you’re sick, stay home.

“Don’t show your class or boss how tough you are,” he said. “Once your symptoms stop, you’re still contagious for 24 hours.”

Clubb said people need to break the bad habit of sneezing into their hands.

“We’re taught as a kid to cover sneeze with hands – but you need to sneeze into your sleeve,” she said.

She said the health department still has shots available and flu season typically lasts until March.

“Unlike last year, this year the shot’s combined into one vaccine,” Clubb said. “You only need one shot now because this year, the H1N1 is built into the regular flu vaccine.”

Many think warmer weather will bring flu relief but Clubb begs to differ.

“Flu can be active in warmer months. There isn’t necessarily less illness in warmer weather,” she said. “The reason you see less is because people are inside less and you’re not passing sickness around.”

Flu season has struck.

The Alamance-Burlington School System believes higher-than-normal student absences this week are related to the winter illness, and the Alamance County Health Department says flu is widespread in North Carolina.

The drop in attendance was most pronounced in local elementary schools.

Information from the school system says average elementary school attendance for the year is 95.1 percent. This week’s elementary attendance percentage was 89.4 percent on Monday, 88.6 percent on Tuesday, 88.4 percent on Wednesday and 88.3 percent on Thursday.

Average Alamance-Burlington middle school attendance is 94.4 percent. This week’s middle school attendance was 90.5 percent on Monday, 89.7 percent on Tuesday and 90.2 percent on Wednesday and Thursday. Average Alamance-Burlington high school attendance is 94.1 percent. This week’s high school attendance was 91.3 percent on Monday, 92.6 percent on Tuesday, 91.9 percent on Wednesday and 91.6 percent on Thursday.

Both the school system and health department say parents need to keep sick children out of school.

“Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home,” said a draft letter distributed to schools as suggested communication to parents.

Sick adults need to isolate themselves as well, Alamance County Health Department spokesman Eric Nickens said. Both adults and children should stay home until they are free of symptoms for 24 hours, absent the use of medications such as pain relievers or fever reducers.

Nickens said free flu shots are available at the health department for people ages 6 months and older. Shots are meant to protect against seasonal and H1N1 flu.

“A little needle-**** now can save you a lot of misery,” he said.

Shots are normally given from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on weekdays on a walk-in basis. The health department is at 319 N. Graham-Hopedale Road in Burlington. For more information, call (336) 227-0101.

If people have extreme symptoms or symptoms that get progressively worse, Nickens said, they should see a doctor.

Nickens said flu has been considered widespread in North Carolina since Jan. 1.

ASHEVILLE — Due to rising rates of influenza, Mission Hospital is asking people not to visit patients in the hospital unless they are next of kin or their closest friend.

As of Thursday, Mission had seen nearly a dozen confirmed cases of influenza. These numbers are typical at this time of year. No cases of H1N1 have been confirmed locally as of Jan. 19.

Flu shots in Pender County start this week

According to statistics, the virus killed 12,000 people last year.  Now, the Centers for Disease Control say everyone – even the young and healthy – should get vaccinated.

This year's vaccine will include the 2009 H1N1 strain as part of the regular seasonal vaccine.  They are being made in the same way as past flu vaccinations, which have an excellent safety record.

The Pender County Health Department will begin administering vaccinations Tuesday, Oct. 5 at the following locations and times:

Pender County Health Department, Burgaw              

• October 5^th 1pm - 4pm
• October 6^th, October 13, October 14^th, 27^th and 28^th 8:30am - 11:00am and 1:30pm - 3:30 pm

Call for an appointment, 910-259-1177

Surf City Welcome Center                    

• October 5, 9am - 1pm

No appointment is necessary, 910-328-4131

Topsail Senior Center, Hwy. 17, Hampstead                

• October 5, 2010 2pm - 5pm

Call for an appointment, 910-259-9119

Pender Adult Services, Walker Street, Burgaw       

• October 7, 2010 11:00am - 3:00pm

Call for an appointment, 910-259-9119

Raleigh, N.C. — Some people are already getting vaccinated for the flu.

“All of our stores have been starting to do at least three or four shots a day,” Walgreens pharmacist Samarah Javadian said Wednesday.

Javadian, who works at the Walgreens at 6901 Glenwood Ave., said her store received the shots last week.

CVS and Kerr Drug will begin offering vaccines in the next couple of weeks.

“It’s certainly not too early to start thinking about the flu shot,” WRAL Health Team’s Dr. Allen Mask said.

Already, federal officials are warning states to be on the lookout for the seasonal flu. They are tracking two flu outbreaks in Iowa.

Mask said it's usually best to get a flu shot in the fall.

“But the experts tell us you need to get the vaccine when it's available, when you're thinking about it, when you've got some free time,” he said.

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that the H1N1 pandemic is over, but if it comes back, this year's flu shot will protect against it.

The shot includes H1N1 and two other flu strains that experts think may circulate this winter.

Mask agrees with federal officials, who say everyone older than 6 months should get a flu shot.

“Except for those who are allergic to eggs or for some reason can't take the vaccine, all of us should plan to get the vaccine this year,” he said.

Flu shots typically cost $20 to $30 at pharmacies. Drug stores usually get flu vaccine before doctors receive it.

“It’s better to get it earlier than to wait till the last minute,” Javadian said.