Pixabay/It’s cold and flu season.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — Since late November, AtlantiCare has been caring for a significant number of patients who have tested positive for flu across its healthcare system.
AtlantiCare saw 836 cases during the week of Nov. 20, and 959 cases the week of Nov. 27. Flu activity in New Jersey as well as AtlantiCare’s service area of southeastern New Jersey is on par with what is happening nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 44 states registering high or very high flu activity during the last week of November. Because the AtlantiCare team is seeing greater flu numbers than it has over the past decade, it is urging the community to help prevent spread of flu and other illnesses.
“We typically see our peak number of flu cases in late December or early January,” patient safety and infection Director Gemma Downham said. “We are also seeing an increase in the number of individuals testing positive for COVID. Additionally, although respiratory syncytial virus—or RSV—has reached its peak, it is still spreading in our community among adults and children.
“When you factor in all the holiday gatherings taking place, we have a perfect storm for even more rapid spread of illness,” Downham continued. “It is extremely important people are vaccinated against flu and vaccinated and boosted for COVID.”
Seeking care in the appropriate setting helps to prevent spread of flu and other illnesses. The flu is also hitting people more severely this season. Adults ages 65 and older, children younger than 5 years and especially those younger than 2 years, pregnant individuals, and anyone with certain chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease could have a high risk of becoming severely ill or developing complications from the flu. However, even healthy people at any age can get seriously ill if they get the flu and don’t get proper care.
“Unless they need in-person medical care, individuals who have a fever should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever subsides,” Downham said.
AtlantiCare encourages individuals who think they have the flu or COVID-19 to contact their healthcare provider to determine the best setting for getting treatment. This could include a telehealth appointment, an in-person visit in the provider’s office, or seeking care from an urgent care center. If a person is experiencing severe flu complications including shortness of breath, chest pain, weakness, dizziness, or other emergency health situations, they or a loved one should call 911 immediately.
Other ways people can help themselves remain healthy and prevent spreading viruses to others include:
- Get vaccinated and boosted. Anyone aged 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as possible.
- If you are at high risk of becoming severely ill or developing complications from the flu and experience symptoms, get tested.
- Avoid others if you are sick.
- Cover your coughs.
- Sneeze into a tissue and throw it into the trash immediately.
- Wear a mask if you are sick or when you are in any setting with that has a large number of people.
- Wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer regularly.
AtlantiCare supports the community in following these steps by offering same-day virtualist primary care appointments seven days a week and telehealth primary care appointments for primary care current patients. It also offers a “Hold My Spot” scheduling option for Urgent Care Centers, which will send an alert to a patient’s smartphone when it’s time to come in for their appointment. AtlantiCare’s Health Park in Egg Harbor Township includes a testing center that offers an all-in-one test for flu, COVID-19 and RSV.
