The flu continues to target Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The state of Indiana says the flu is hitting Hoosiers early and hard. Seven flu deaths have been reported since November. By comparison, there were none this time last year.

The state says if doctors and hospitals are reporting 3% of their patients have flu like symptoms, that means influenza is in full effect.

Right now, health facilities are reporting even more cases and it could get worse because kids are heading back to school. “We’re just seeing some spotted reports of the flu nothing that would raise our concern but we know here in Central Indiana the flu season can last well into March,” says John Althardt the Director for IPS.

In just a matter of weeks, the spread of the flu has become severe in Indiana. According to the Indiana State Department of Health, doctor's offices are reporting 7% of their patients have flu like symptoms and emergency rooms are reporting 5%. “It is above what we normally see which is why we're calling it a moderately severe year,” explains Shawn Richards a respiratory epidemiologist with the Indiana State Department of Health. “The H3N2 strain that is predominates right now is also typically a little more severe virus. ”

Shawn Richards' job is to track influenza. Not only does she test samples to find out which strain is strongest, she looks at 7 different types of information to find out the trend. The way she tracks that is through social media sites like Face book and Twitter. “What people are talking about and see if we can track that way,” says Richards. “We do take it into consideration to try and figure out how to best communicate the information to other persons. ”

Richards says this year’s vaccination protects again H3N2 and 2 other strains of the virus. She recommends, if you haven’t make sure you get the flu vaccine.