As flu cases and hospitalizations ramp up across the country, Louisiana is experiencing some of the highest levels of activity in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On a heat map measuring symptoms of flu, Louisiana is one of two states colored in a smoldering dark burgundy. The only other state experiencing “very high” levels of flu-like illness is South Carolina.
“We are among the states with the very highest level of flu activity currently, which unfortunately, historically is not an uncommon place for us to be,” said Dr. Joe Kanter, state health officer.
Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches, and fatigue.
Currently, 12.5% of all emergency room visits are due to respiratory viruses in Louisiana. Flu accounts for 8%, said Kanter, with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, COVID, adenovirus and rhinovirus making up most of the rest. The national rate for ER visits is about half that, at 4% for influenza-like illnesses, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Flu season typically lasts through March, and it’s not clear when transmission might settle down in the state, said Dr. Julio Figueroa, chief of infectious diseases at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine. Festive gatherings may extend the virus’ ability to infect, making the flu vaccine a still-valuable tool for many months.
“Going into the holidays and then Mardi Gras, we won’t know how long this is going to last,” said Figueroa. “If you haven't had the vaccine, it would still be good to get it. We’re certainly recommending it.”
Dr. Stephen Jones, who operates two urgent cares in the Seventh and Ninth Ward and nine school clinics throughout New Orleans, started seeing an uptick in cases about four weeks ago. So far, flu has been outpacing most viruses in the clinics, though RSV has been prevalent among children.
The busiest days for respiratory viruses could be ahead, said Jones.
“We see the most positivity – in flu, strep, COVID, RSV – typically in December and January,” said Jones, CEO and founder of Care Eleven Health.
After virtually nonexistent flu seasons in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, flu seems to be charting a more typical course. Last year, flu numbers peaked at the end of November. In the 2019 to 2020 season, there were increases until March.
The highest rates of flu requiring emergency room visits in Louisiana have been among children ages 2 to 11, who make up about 40% of all flu visits. Adults of any age make up just 8% of visits.
Last week, 118 people were admitted to the hospital for flu, and 46 people have died in this flu season, according to the state's respiratory illness dashboard.