By Thayer Evans
The Houston Chronicle
December 13, 2007

Although flu activity has increased statewide, its presence remains low in the Pearland/Friendswood/Alvin area, local health officials say. 

Brazoria County epidemiologist Karen Carroll said the presence of influenza is "very, very minimal" in the county. 

According to the county's most recent available flu report posted to its Web site, 30 cases of influenza-like illness have been voluntarily reported in the county, four of which were in Pearland. 

"We're not seeing anything outside of the normal," Carroll said. 

She said the county's numbers are higher this year because the Angleton Danbury Medical Center in Angleton is being zealous in reporting influenza-like illness. 

"They're reporting everybody that comes in with some of those symptoms," she said. 

The flu season began in October and generally runs through March, but can last as long as May. Its peak is late December through March. 

In Galveston County, one case of the flu has been confirmed, said Kurt Koopman, spokesman for the Galveston County Health District. He said he did not know of any flu activity in Friendswood. 

"None of our areas are showing anything out of the ordinary," Koopman said. 

According to the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity in Texas was "local" as of Dec. 1, the latest report available on its Web site. 

The previous week, it had been "sporadic," which means few laboratory-confirmed cases had been reported. 

The "local" level means increased influenza-like illness within a single region of the state and lab evidence of the flu in that region, according to the Web site of the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

The designation also can be caused by two or more institutional outbreaks within a region as well as lab-confirmed influenza in that area. 

To reduce the likeliness of catching the flu, Carroll recommends getting a flu shot and stringent handwashing. 

Those with the flu should stay home from school and work. 

"Don't spread it to other folks," she said. Karen Medway, the lead nurse for the Pearland Independent School District, said this flu season has been one of the mildest in many years. 

The district has not reported any cases of the virus and in the past would have reported several by now, she said. 

"I'm really encouraged," Medway said. "It's been great."

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