If people tried to buy flu and cold medicines lately, they probably realized the nationwide epidemic of various bugs, especially the flu, has touched Borderland.
Some retailers' cold and flu shelves recently looked as though they'd been emptied out like a looting scene from a post-apocalypse movie. But unlike a dystopia, more health care products were being stocked on most local shelves daily or weekly.
“The flu is here, and it's been a pretty bad season overall,” but not at the deadly epidemic levels seen in some other parts of the country, said Koochiching County Health Department Director Susan Congrave.
Although more than two dozen flu cases have been confirmed, no deaths in the county have been reported, she and hospital officials said this week.
Local health officials said, obviously, the flu and other illnesses are to be treated seriously, but media hype has probably led many residents to overreact to what may just be the cases of the sniffles.
There still are a number of people with not just the flu, but also colds and the norovirus, Congrave said, in explaining why so many residents are sick lately and there's a run on medicines.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorizes influenza as “widespread” in Minnesota, according to the CDC's weekly online flu report.
The virus can be particularly deadly for the elderly and people with other serious underlying health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, Congrave said. She said the season started early and is expected to last for at least a few more months.
And earlier this week, the flu claimed the life of a Twin Cities' teenage girl, bringing the total number of influenza deaths this season in the state to five, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The department this week reported 578 confirmed flu cases across the state.
Congrave said hopefully with some pragmatic practices, the vast majority residents will come out of this cold and flu season relatively unscathed, she said.
She offered the following advice:
*Get a flu shot. It's never too late. Contact a health provider, the county Health Department, local clinic, hospital or pharmacy to arrange one.
*Stay away from crowds.
*See a doctor when stricken ill and inquire about prescription medications that can lessen the symptoms.
*Wash hands regularly.
*Use hand sanitizer if soap and water isn't easily accessible.
*If sick, cover coughs and sneezes “vampire style” or with the crook of an arm.
*Stay home from work.
*Drink plenty of fluids.
*Rest.
“This has been a busier flu and cold season than usual,” said Gary Anderson, City Drug Store pharmacist and owner. “In a recent weekend, our shelves were quite picked over. We have plenty of supplies now, though.”
Anderson said that they've had to increase their normal stock of cold and flu symptom remedies since December.
“It sells really well – sadly,” he said.
He added that a lot of times in these situations what happens is that when one member of a family gets sick, the parents will go out and prepare in case everyone gets ill.
International Falls Independent School District No. 361 Superintendent Nordy Nelson said “there's been a slight increase in absences” due to parents calling in sick children in all grades.
“But I wouldn't say it's to the point where we should consider it a real concern,” Nelson said.
A Kmart Pharmacy representative said they are still offering flu shots daily on a first-come, first-served basis. However, they are running low on the vaccine and unsure when the next shipment will arrive.
Congrave said she believes Rainy Lake Medical Center so far has only had to hydrate some sick patients.
“Over the last two weeks, we have seen approximately 28 cases of influenza in the Emergency Room," said Rainy Lake Medical Center spokeswoman Angela Liedke in a statement Thursday. "At this time, we have not had any hospitalized cases."
Liedke also said flu shots remain available at the hospital campus.
For information on where flu shots are available and what to do when sick, go online to the state Health Department website at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/index.html.
The CDC's website, www.cdc.gov/flu/, also has information on how to care for someone who's sick, lists of treatments and other information.
