Flu outbreak hits Georgia hard

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Georgia is one of the states seeing a high level of flu activity.

Georgia is just one level down from the highest level of flu activity.

Doctors said even though this season started later, it is hitting with a vengeance.

“We’ve seen many more cases in the shorter period of time than we usually do,” said Dr. Patricia Meadors at Piedmont Atlanta hospital. “Really terrible muscle aches and pains, mild sore throat, minimal runny nose and a lot of coughing.”

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Meadors said more patients than usual are so sick that they need to be admitted to the hospital. She says that has happened to about 25 percent of the people testing positive for the flu in January at Piedmont’s midtown location.

“If you are seen with about 48 hours of onset of symptoms, (take) Tamiflu, which lessens the time you are sick. There’s no cure for the flu. Tamiflu can lessen the time you are ill,” she said.

One person in Georgia has died from the flu so far this season, according to the Georgia Department of Health.

Experts said it’s not too late to get a flu shot. Doctors said most strains of the flu showing up so far are covered by the vaccine.

Cox Media Group