Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

Beware - flu bug making early appearance

By Eric Adams
It's that time of year again. Americans everywhere are all too familiar with the season of influenza, which brings congestion, coughs and general discomfort.
This year is the first year in a decade that has seen a significant number of influenza cases before Christmas, according to a national report. The Grand Lake area is no exception.
"It's definitely an earlier season than what we're used to," Deb Scheer, epidemiologist for Mercer, Auglaize and Van Wert counties, said.
Nicole Pleiman, director of infection control at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater, said they have seen influenza-related admissions as early as mid-November. That's more than a month prior to the typical post-Christmas arrival.
Scheer cited odd weather patterns as a potential culprit for the early spike but added that's only speculation.
"Viruses mutate and change all the time," she said.
Pleiman also said it's "too early to tell" whether the early arrival of influenza will mean a more intense season overall.
The flu virus has numerous classifications but the most common are influenza A strains H1N1 and H3N2, as well as a prominent strain of influenza B.
A vaccine offered through the Mercer County Health Department protects against all three, Scheer said.
"Anybody 6 months and older should get the shot; it's the single best way to prevent the illness," she said.
Pleiman also stressed the importance of getting vaccinated as early as possible. Flu shots are still available by calling the health department, at some local pharmacies and through the hospital 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Mercer Health Home Care office in Celina.
"It takes two weeks for the vaccine to become effective," she said.
Scheer said the health department has administered 1,084 vaccines since September, about the same amount as last year.
Two new innovations were brought to the immunization process this year: a drive-through flu clinic held in September and an intradermal vaccine that offers a 90 percent smaller needle to patients ages 18-64. About 22 percent of Mercer County vaccine recipients opted for the intradermal, which is not as invasive but does pose a marginally higher risk of skin itching and irritation, she said.
Scheer encouraged constant caution during flu season, because the virus can be transmitted even by symptomless carriers.
"Most think it's (spread) just by cough," she said. "If you're healthy, you can actually pass the flu to someone a day before symptoms develop."

Flu facts:
Influenza symptoms
• Fever/chills
• Cough and sore throat
• Congestion and headaches
• Fatigue
Tips for containing the virus
• Coughing into the sleeve
• Staying home when ill
• Adequate sleep
• Healthy eating
• Disinfecting frequently handled items such as cellphones, condiment bottles and purses
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
Additional online stories on this date
Officials seek improvement of residential systems
ST. HENRY - Local officials are finding more and more failing residential septic systems as they look into agriculture pollution complaints in waterways. [More]
Bulldogs bury Spartans early
CELINA - An efficient offense and a stout defensive effort helped Celina lead for all but 10 seconds on Tuesday night en route to a 78-50 win over Lima Senior at the Fieldhouse. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Supreme Court hears complaint by winners of spillway lawsuit
A state attorney told the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is working as fast as it can to pay 87 landowners owed money for flooding on their land downstream of Grand Lake.
Work progresses at Celina solar field
CELINA - Work is moving steadily at the Celina Renewable Energy Center with all 20,000 solar panels - also known as modules - installed. Contractors are completing transformers this week.
MINSTER - Village council members Tuesday night discussed installing a solar energy field at the village-owned Luedeke farm.
American Municipal Power has offered the village an opportunity to participate in its solar energy project.
ROCKFORD - The village's 2013 budget shows the cash balance will have been to be tapped to cover expenses, which exceed revenue.
Council members on
CELINA - The Celina Merchant Association on Tuesday heard a land swap proposal to create a downtown parking lot.
Bob Heitkamp, owner of Gamarama, s
MINSTER - A new restaurant is delivering pizzas in the Minster, New Bremen, Fort Loramie and Maria Stein area.
Marco's Pizza has opened at Eagle Ac
COLDWATER - After struggling for most of the first three quarters, Coldwater finally put things together down the stretch and outscored National Trail 10-0 in the last half of the fourth quarter to pick up a 48-37 win in nonconference action on Thursday night at The Palace.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
A second quarter cold spell hampered Parkway as Crestview took a 10-point lead at halftime and pulled away for a 56-38 win in non-conference action at Panther Gymnasium.