'Sporadic' Flu Activity Reported in Virginia; Flu Nasal Mist Vaccine Not Available This Year

Virginia is reporting "sporadic" flu activity across the Commonwealth last week, the first week the Department of Health began tracking flu activity across the state. "VDH does not have a way to track individual cases of influenza in Virginia," said spokesman Matthew Lipani, per Diane Woolard director of VDH’s Division of Surveillance and Investigation.

"We use a combination of lab reports, outbreak reports, and visits to emergency departments/urgent care centers for influenza-like illness to establish an influenza activity level each week," said Lipani. "Tracking of the flu season officially began last week. We are not seeing much influenza activity yet. We occasionally receive a lab report of a positive influenza test, and as such the flu activity level was set at sporadic last week."

The flu, which hits the elderly and very young the hardest, is blamed for as many as 5,000 deaths each year in the United States, according to the CDC.

The Fairfax County health department says getting the flu vaccine is the best way to fight the flu. But if you were counting on the flu mist this year, think again. The American Academy of Pediatrics is joining with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in recommending against the nasal spray vaccine this flu season, saying it does not effectively protect against the spread of the virus.

Find out where you can get a flu shot using this locator (just plug in your ZIP code in the box below):

According to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the nasal spray vaccine – marketed under the name FluMist - did not protect against certain strains of the flu that were most prominent the past three seasons. The nasal vaccine's effectiveness among children 2-17 was 3 percent last year; the injected vaccine had an effectiveness rate of 63 percent.

The Health Department recommends getting vaccinated as soon as the vaccine becomes available in the fall. Use the Flu Vaccine Finder to locate a vaccination center near you. Here's more from the county health department:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu every year, especially people who are at high risk. People at high risk include people age 65 and older, pregnant women (and women up to two weeks postpartum), residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Others at high-risk include those with asthma, cancer, heart disease and stroke, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
• Flu vaccine is safe and effective.
• Flu vaccine cannot cause the flu.

Learn more about all types of flu from CDC.

In addition to getting a flu vaccine you can also:

• Wash your hands.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Stay home when sick.

Read more about the 2016-2017 flu season on this CDC page.

PHOTO courtesy of CDC