DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / January 8, 2000

Despite the warm New Year’s weather coming and going over the past few days, it’s still winter and winter breeds influenza.

Influenza arrives in two viral forms, Type A, the more severe of the two, and Type B. There are many other bugs that mimic the flu, but all aremedically treated in the same manner.

Dr. David St. Germain, a staff member at River Parishes Hospital, saidsymptoms of the flu are fever, chills, headaches, muscle and body aches and a general malays. Added to this list is “lots of nonproductivecoughing,” he said.

The big thing about influenza is the high fever and the muscle aches and body aches.

He said it is possible to have 103 and 104 degree fevers with the more severe cases.

The general symptoms last around a week, though the cough, Dr. StGermain said, “could last for a couple of weeks.”The main reason the flu spreads around so quickly is that one is contagious only in the first couple of days.

“By the time you realize you have it, you’ve probably spread it to a couple of people,” said Dr. St. Germain.Influenza Type A, being more severe in symptoms, can be dangerous, especially to the elderly and those with a chronic illness. When theseindividuals and severe symptoms combine, Dr. St. Germain said people havemore trouble breathing and stop eating and drinking, which causes them to dehydrate.

Sean Rouselle, spokesman for the River Parishes Hospital, said the hospital was pretty busy before Christmas deadline with flu cases, about double what is normal.

This is quite a jump considering Rouselle remembered that “last year was real mild.”The hospital was able to send most of the patients home feeling better in time for Christmas. However, with the temperature dropping in the pastweek, the rise in flu cases should flux accordingly. Rouselle said currentlythe number of cases the hospital staff is treating is “a little more than normal.”It has not been reported that the flu symptoms the River Parishes have been dealing with are of the more severe Influenza Type A.

“The last time the hospital was full with Influenza cases was in 1996,” Dr. St. Germain remembered.According to the doctor, the best way to get over the flu is with general symptomatic treatment.

For more difficult cases he said that Symmetrel, Flumadine, or Relenza, which is dispensed through an inhaler, is most often prescribed.

The drugs “reduce the fever and shorten the duration (of the sickness) by one or two days. You must start early” for the drugs to be effective, saidDr. St. Germain.These treatments are all after the fact, though. Before the flu really getsstarted one can get a flu vaccination.

To keep from catching the bug altogether, Dr. St. Germain said, “If youdon’t want to get influenza, get the shot. If you don’t get the fluvaccination there is not much you can do.” He explained that you should get the shot before the flu season begins, but that “Symmetrel is used to prevent Influenza in the midst of an epidemic.”Those who need the shot are usually 65 and older or individuals with chronic illnesses. River Parishes’ citizens in these categories should getthe shot early in the year since the flu can cause a more severe and longer lasting illness with these individuals.

There are local health units in Luling, Lutcher, Vacherie, Reserve and Edgard which supply flu shots to the public in preparation for the winter months.

Nurse Geraldine Bienvenu from St. James said she has given 350 in herparish this year. The health unit, however, is only allowed to give to thosewho are over 60 or anyone with chronic illness, she said. So far thenumber of shots distributed has been average.

At Edgard in the St. John Parish, Janice Meadoux said that unit’s nurseshave given out about 70 flu shots since fall for the elderly and the critically ill.

Gail Hollins, nurse supervisor in Luling, said 212 shots have been given there since mid-October.

Though most of the health units supply to only certain patients and usually earlier in the season, “We still have flu vaccine readily available to anyone who wants it,” Hollins assured.

River Parishes Hospital refers patients desiring the flu shot to their local health units since it was unable to continue giving the shots this year.

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