Flu Cases Continue to Rise in Carolinas

ROCK HILL, SC – We are reaching the peak of flu season — and it has been a bad one in the Carolinas.

Charlotte now ranks among the top cities for the most severe cases of the flu.

“Probably one of the worst that we have seen in the past decade,” explains Piedmont Medical Center Dr. Arash Poursina.

“Every week we are seeing doubling of the numbers of patients that are hospitalized, or who end up with complications, or who die,” Poursina says.

He says a perfect storm of factors is leading to this unusually bad season.

First, people started getting sick earlier than usual. Combine that with a particularly nasty stain, H3N2, and a less-effective flu vaccine.

Last month, Piedmont Medical Center reported over 220 confirmed flu cases, compare that to 55 last January, and no cases in January 2016.

A new illness tracking report from DoctorsReport.com found the Charlotte area ranked second in the country in having the most severe flu cases over the past week.

Dr. Poursina says following the basics – washing your hands and staying away from others who are sick – can keep you safe.

He says with H3N2, the droplets are also smaller and can travel farther.

“When a person coughs or sneeze, they can aerosol the virus for quite a considerable distance and time,” Poursina says.

Doctors say you should still get the flu vaccine.