Flu cases on rise, Oklahoma health officials say

At 26.3% positivity, Tulsa County is 6 percentage points above the statewide average for influenza among respiratory illness patients. Tulsa County hospitals are consistently seeing the the most flu patients of seven regions across Oklahoma this season.

Of the 128 respiratory illness inpatients reported by Saint Francis Health System over the past week, nearly half tested positive for influenza A or B, a rise of 30%. The numbers of COVID-19 and RSV inpatients, however, were both down about 30% from the previous week at Saint Francis.

Those at highest risk for severe complications from respiratory illnesses are typically the youngest or oldest patients, an Oklahoma State Department of Health official said this week.

“But individuals with underlying health conditions that they’re taking medication regularly for or pregnant women can also be at high risk from respiratory illnesses,” Infectious Disease Prevention and Response Director Kendra Dougherty said.

In a video message from the State Health Department, Dougherty stressed the importance for symptomatic individuals in those high-risk categories to seek medical care or at least a physician’s guidance.

“Now that we have COVID co-circulating, or kind of muddying the waters on what is considered influenza or RSV, ... once you know what you have, (doctors) may recommend antiviral treatment,” she said. “Flu and COVID both have antivirals that can be administered and help (reduce) severity and duration.”

In Tulsa County, 225 patients have been hospitalized with influenza so far this season, and three flu patients have died.

“Prevention steps are pretty similar for most respiratory infections,” Dougherty said. “Hand hygiene is going to be top of the list. We don’t realize how many times we touch our face, and you don’t want to introduce those germs. But also covering your cough and staying home when you’re sick and making sure that you’re up to date on your vaccines.”

The body’s immunity may not develop until about two weeks after receiving a vaccination, the Tulsa Health Department says, so vaccinations are recommended at the start of respiratory virus season in the fall. However, virus transmission can remain significant through spring, Dougherty said, so getting vaccinated can still be helpful.

The dropoff is “typically sometime between March and May. … Sometimes we have flu season or other respiratory infections extend out all the way into May,” she said.

For more detailed data, go to oklahoma.gov to view the Oklahoma State Department of Health dashboard, updated weekly.

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