Some doctors report early cases of flu

Read the press release

Flu shots are now becoming available, but the airborne disease may already be infecting people.
Dr. J.A. Konikowski of the Beeler-Manske Clinic in Texas City said he’s already seeing cases.

 “What I’ve seen is two cases with the classic flu-type symptoms,” he said Thursday. “In the last two days, five out of every 10 patients have had upper respiratory symptoms. ”It’s early to see the flu in this area, but no-one really knows when the disease will spread.

“You can’t predict that any more than you can predict hurricanes,” said Bonnie Hart, owner and pharmacist at Hart Pharmacy in La Marque.  She said this area usually begins seeing the flu between November and January.

The health department, meanwhile, is not seeing early cases. “We have not been receiving any reports of unusual numbers of folks with cold and flu symptoms,” said Kurt Koopmann, spokesman for the Galveston County Health District. All school districts report weekly with the health district, and none have indicated anything out of the ordinary among students, he said.

 The State of Texas does not officially begin its yearly flu surveillance until the middle of October, Koopmann said.

Hart said she isn’t seeing a rush on cold and flu products, but she’s expecting it to begin soon. Her husband had the flu last week.

A 4-year-old Pearland girl is reported as the first flu case in Texas.

 “People really forget the one portion of our society that passes this around to other people is the 4- to 8-year-olds,” Konikowski said.

 What To Look For
Symptoms for the flu are very similar to those of cold and respiratory infections.

 “With the flu, you get the rapid onset, and when you run a fever, it’s usually higher than you typically expect,” Hart said. “For most people, it’s going to be over 100 degrees.

”Hart said a cold won’t give you aches and pains, while a respiratory infection will be located in the head, chest or sinus areas. The flu, however, comes with a rapid onset of aches, pains and fever within the first 24 hours.

“It’s like a healthy sick,” said Hart. “Not everybody gets every symptom.”

Both Hart and Konikowski agree that treatment for all of these are symptomatic. 

Flu shots can be effective, if the correct strain was chosen for the shot. They take two to three weeks to become effective, however.

There are also prescription medications, but they must be taken within the first three or four days of symptoms to work, Hart said.

“There’s not a whole lot of medical help that’s available for the flu,” Konikowski said. “Keep people at home and keep them from exposing everybody.”

Hart said most people are sick from one to two weeks. Her husband used a homeopathic product and was better in two days, but she said these results are not typical of all people.

There are things you can do to get better in addition to getting the flu shot or taking medications.

Konikowski suggests controlling your fever with over-the-counter medications, drink a lot of fluids, wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough.

“When you’ve been running a fever, double up on your water soluble vitamins like B and C,” Hart said. “Your body is cooking it.” She said zinc lozenges can work well on a cold, but will not affect the flu

Flu Shots

So far, there have been no restrictions on who can receive a flu shot in the county.

The Health District has ordered 6,600 doses of vaccine and received 650, Koopmann said in a press release. No shortage or delay is expected.

The following groups are recommended by the health district for vaccination — children 6 months to 5-years-old; pregnant women; people 50 or older; anyone with a chronic medical condition such as asthma or diabetes; and people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

The shot is also recommended for health care workers and people who live with anyone in those risk groups.

Where To Go

Flu shots for high-risk persons will be given by Galveston County Health District nurses at the following locations in October from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• Thursday, Carbide Park (Wayne Johnson Community Center), 4102 FM 519, La Marque
• Oct. 12, Bacliff Senior Citizens Center, 4503 11th St., Bacliff
• Oct. 19, Dickinson Senior Citizens Center, 2714 state Highway 3, Dickinson
• Oct. 25, Bay Vue Methodist Church, 1441 state Highway 87, Crystal Beach
• Oct. 26, Galveston Senior Citizens Center, 2201 Ave. L, Galveston

People with Medicare Part B insurance will receive the shots for free. For everyone else, the flu vaccination will cost $20 and the pneumonia vaccination will be $30. 

For more information about additional clinics and vaccine supply contact the District’s Immunization Nurse Manager, June Gonzalez at 409-938-2244. 

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
409-938-2211 or 409-392-0007
kkoopman@gchd.org