Wyoming experienced a particularly high number of influenza cases this flu season, with over 4,700 reported influenza cases thus far in the 2014-2015 season.
“This has been a severe influenza season,” Wyoming Department of Health Surveillance Epidemiologist Reginald McClinton said. “This is the most reported cases I have seen during my tenure with the Wyoming Department of Health.” McClinton said influenza seasons are unpredictable and many factors can impact seasonal activity.
“Several factors could have contributes to the number of cases this season; regional activity, increased reporting, lack of vaccinations, changing viral strains, etc.,” McClinton said.
McClinton said influenza is a serious disease that can cause severe illness and death, and that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly influenza vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against influenza viruses.
“Vaccinations can reduce influenza illnesses, medical visits, missed work and missed school due to influenza, as well as prevent influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths,” McClinton said.
UW student Ryan Davis said he has not gotten the flu this season, but he’s gotten it in the past. “This season I was lucky enough not to get it,” he said. Davis said in recent years he has not gotten a vaccination.
“My parents forgot one October when I was 13 or 14, and I haven’t really had the flu since then,” he said. “I don’t really see the point in getting a needle shoved in my arm.”
UW Student Health Service Director Joanne Steane, MD, said many students do not obtain the influenza vaccine. Steane also said UW Student Health experienced an increase in the number of positive influenza tests, with 20 confirmed cases being recorded thus far for the 2014-2015 season, up from three in the 2013-2014 season.
“We see many more students with probable influenza based on their symptoms, but their testing is negative, or they come in too late for an accurate test,” Steane said.
Steane said Student Health provided 1,000 flu vaccinations during the 2014-2015 season, the same number for the 2013-2014 season. She said the number of flu cases varies each year, but perhaps the reason for the severe season was a drifted influenza A (H3N2) virus circulating that was not in the vaccine. Steane said this resulted in decreased influenza vaccine effectiveness.
