Idaho Flu Season Getting Early Start Health Officials Encouraging Vaccination For Those At Risk

Any Idahoan who wants to avoid influenza should get a vaccination quickly because the earliest flu season in at least 20 years is off and running, state health officials warn.

Five Idaho cases of influenza Type A were confirmed last week by the state Bureau of Laboratories. They are among the first cases reported nationwide.

The first case was confirmed in Orofino. The others are in Hailey, Ketchum and Boise.

“The real message for people in Boise is, ‘Get your vaccine now, and don’t delay, because, if you delay, it may be too late,”’ said Dr. Jesse Greenblatt, state epidemiologist.

Shots are available from private physicians, minor-emergency clinics, some drug stores and the Central District Health Department.

The symptoms of influenza, a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs, include fever, chills, cough and body aches.

By the end of next week, health officials hope to know for sure whether the victims’ Type A strain matches the types in this year’s vaccine.

This year’s immunizations protect against the three strains of influenza expected to be prevalent this year: Type A/Texas, Type A/Johannesburg and Type B/Beijing.

No cases of influenza Type B have been confirmed in Idaho yet. It takes up to four weeks for the shots to provide full protection against influenza.

Although just five cases of influenza have been confirmed so far, that does not mean only five people have been stricken.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare makes no attempt to confirm every case, the way it does with diseases such as pertussis and mumps.

Health officials recommend the shots for the elderly and for people with chronic illness, such as diabetes. Those people are at risk of complications and death.