Hospitalizations trending down after Oklahoma sees historic high in flu cases

Flu hospitalizations in Oklahoma are trending down after reaching a historic high earlier this month, the Hudson College of Public Health reported on Thursday. 

“I think we've had a historically high number of influenza cases this year. Two weeks ago, we had almost 1000 Oklahomans in the hospital with influenza, and I just haven't seen rates that high in a long time,” said Dr. Dale Bratzler, Dean of the Hudson College of Public Health. 

Last week, graphs showed there were roughly 450 people in the hospital. 

“So the number of people being admitted to hospitals dropped a lot, and then the number of tests that come back positive, also dropped almost in half,” Dr. Bratzler explained. 

The positivity rate rested at 39% before falling to 22% last week. Most of the tests came back as Influenza A. 

The CDC said cases in Oklahoma are still very high. 

“A lot of the people that ended up in the hospital with influenza actually have pneumonia either from the virus itself or secondary pneumonias. People just seem to be sicker this year with the flu and it lasted longer.” 

People over the age of 65 and young children are particularly susceptible, he added. 

“And this year, 50 and over – a lot of people were hospitalized this year,” with symptoms like fever, cough and runny nose, the school shared. 

The state health department said the number of tests coming back positive for Influenza B has gone up compared to Influenza A.

Dr. Bratzler explained that sometimes, there is a second wave of flu from Influenza B, but so far “we are not seeing that.” 

Is it too late to get the vaccine? 

“No, absolutely not. Flu season goes through the month of March. It takes a week or two to get full protection from the influenza vaccine.” 

So the college recommended those who have not yet gotten the vaccine to do so anytime through the month of March.